Mount Maunganui March 8 2022: The Pakistan middle-order fought back after an early assault by Australia's leg-spin twins but their total of 190 ultimately wasn’t enough against a supremely talented top-order.
It was a sight to behold as Australia had a leg-spinner bowling and taking wickets from each end early in the Pakistan innings.
Alana King and Amanda-Jade Wellington were called into action soon after the Pakistan openers were dismissed, and it didn’t take long for the two turners to add to Australia’s advantage.
King can produce plenty of spin from her stock leg-break but dismissed Omaima Sohail with a clever wrong’un that somehow found a gap between bat and pad.
As if to demonstrate the different approaches the pair take to their trade, Wellington picked up her wicket with a faster delivery that beat Nida Dar in flight.
King proved she also has the control and variety to be a weapon in the final overs and later dismissed Pakistan’s emerging star Fatima Sana with a big rip from around the wicket.
The leg-spinners were well-supported by left-arm orthodox turner Jess Jonassen who went for only 33 runs off her 10 tidy overs, to give a glimpse of what could be an intriguing triple-threat from Australia as the tournament progresses.
Pakistan pair set Women’s World Cup record
Pakistan looked in danger of being skittled quickly when they sunk to 44/4 in the 13th over but Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz dug in to keep their team in the match and ensure they posted a competitive total.
Maroof and Riaz initially put a high price on their wickets but soon started to pile on the runs and eventually built a 99-run stand that is now Pakistan’s highest partnership at a Women's World Cup.
Skipper Maroof was the more damaging of the pair as she hit eight boundaries in her 78 not out, although Pakistan might regret not taking more risks toward the end of the innings to try to set a score that would have tested Australia more.
Top-order talent in ominous form
Rachael Haynes scored a ton and was the standout performer as Australia passed the 300-mark in their opening match against England and looked set for another big score today as she raced to 34 with seven boundaries.
But when Haynes gave up her wicket with a loose shot off the bowling of Nashra Sundhu, Alyssa Healy picked up where her opening partner had left off.
Healy had seemed content to play a support role until Haynes departed but then took her typically aggressive approach to reach 72 off 79 deliveries and steered Australia to a comfortable victory.
With the two openers in such ominous form, Australia is already showing they have the top-order depth of talent to go all the way.
