Indore, Oct 22: All-rounders Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner shared an unbeaten 180-run partnership as Australia asserted their dominance with a comprehensive six-wicket victory over arch-rivals England in their Women’s World Cup clash here on Wednesday.
Spinners Alana King (1/20), Sophie Molineux (2/52), Gardner (2/39) and pacer Sutherland (3/60) restricted England to a modest 244 for nine despite Tammy Beaumont’s patient 79 off 108 balls after opting to bowl.
Sutherland (98 not out) then capped off a fine day by anchoring the run chase, rescuing Australia from a shaky start and guiding them home in the company of Gardner (104 not out), who provided the perfect foil with her fluent strokeplay.
With this win, Australia not only maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament but also reclaimed the top spot on the points table.
Chasing a below par target, Australia found themselves in early trouble at 24 for three inside six overs, as the English new-ball pair of Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell hit consistent lengths and removed the top order cheaply.
However, Australia’s famed batting depth once again proved to be the difference between the two sides. Beth Mooney (20) steadied the innings in a 44-run stand with Sutherland, before Gardner joined forces with the 24-year-old all-rounder as the Australians hit boundaries at will, reaching the target with 57 balls to spare.
Earlier, Beaumont gave England a rollicking start while Alice Capsey (38) and Charlie Dean (26) put up an important 61 run partnership at the fag end of the innings as England suffered yet another familiar collapse. (PTI)
Brief scores:
Eng: 244/9 in 50 overs (T Beaumont 78, A Capsey 38; Annabel Sutherland 3/60, Sophie Molineux 2/52, Ashleigh Gardner 2/39).
Aus: 248/4 in 40.3 overs (Annabel Sutherland 98 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 104 not out).
