In dramatic World Cup encounter, Beth Mooney delivered the performance of a lifetime. Her efforts rescued Australia from what was shaping up to be a catastrophic defeat against Pakistan. Mooney painted the scoreboard with an eye-popping 109 runs—her first century—and guided the team to a respectable total of 221-9. Her stellar performance clinched them a convincing 107-run win! It was Australia’s second victory in the tournament. This victory stamps their ticket as clear favorites as they pursue Superstars eighth World Cup trophy.
The match unfolded on a challenging pitch where Australia’s batting lineup initially struggled against Pakistan’s spinners. At one point, they were in deep water, placed at 76-7. They came within striking distance of suffering one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. At times, Mooney was crafty and patient as she set up in the crease.
Mooney built a vital third-wicket partnership with Alana King, scoring 106 runs from 97 balls. This union was key in shoring up the middle-order and guiding Australia clear of peril. Beyond the stunning strokeplay, Mooney showcased her talent for rotating the strike too, hitting 48 runs off singles during her innings. This very tactical move was key to Australia’s ability to recover and re-establish their innings after their top-order batsman fell early.
In her innings’ latter stages Mooney displayed her explosive ability to find the boundary when she whacked three fours in a row. Not content with a century, she scored 59 runs in the last five overs alone with four boundaries off her final ten balls. This late surge proved essential in getting Australia to a match-winning total, one that ended up being decisive in the low-scoring contest.
After the game, Australia captain Alyssa Healy praised Mooney’s efforts, stating, “Two points is going through my head and we will move on.” Healy stressed how important Mooney’s knock was considering where Australia were at with their World Cup campaign.
Pakistan’s Fatima Sana recognized the early dominance of her team but confessed they lost their footing as the game went on. She remarked, “We were on top for the first 20 overs. After that, Beth Mooney played well and our girls’ energy was down. We need to improve on that.”
Mooney’s masterful century also led her to the Player of the Match award. More than anything, though, it signaled the indomitable fight and ambition of the Australians — pullovers and all. Her performance was just another example of why Australia is still the big dog in the pound of women’s cricket.
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