Australia’s opening pair Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney batted the hapless Bangladeshi team out of the match in the Group A encounter at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Thursday. The four-time champions won the match by a massive margin of 86 runs.
The Australian duo added a whopping 151 runs for the first wicket, which is now the highest partnership for Australia in the T20 World Cup.
A record-breaking night for Healy and Mooney at the top of Australia's order! #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/LtmEBPmgzq
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 27, 2020
The right-hand, left-hand alliance of the Australian openers ripped the Bangladeshi bowling attack into pieces as both notched up scores above 80, at a rapid pace.
Healy hit 83 off just 53 deliveries at a magnificent strike rate of 156.6, where she smashed ten boundaries and three towering maximums. She was awarded the player of the match title for her brilliant effort with the bat.
Player of the Match is Alyssa Healy for her 83 off 53 balls, which included three sixes.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/zcg3Pzr4A8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 27, 2020
Mooney, at the other end, made merry of the Bangla bowlers, with her unbeaten knock of 81, which came off just 58 deliveries, powered by nine scorching boundaries.
The finishing impetus was provided by swashbuckling batter Ashleigh Gardner, who took the Australian score to 189, with her 9-ball 22. This was also the third-highest total by any team in the T20 World Cup.
https://twitter.com/T20WorldCup/status/1232988390540349440
All of the Bangladeshi bowlers went for plenty, barring Rumana Ahmed and Fatima Khatun, who relatively put the brakes on the Australian proceedings.
Coming out to bat, Bangladesh were reduced to 26-3, by the end of the powerplay, adding woes for the Asian team.
A consolidating partnership between Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque delayed the inevitable for Bangladesh.
Megan Schutt (3/21) was the pick of the bowlers who delivered the early breakthroughs for her side. By the end of their innings, Bangladesh just managed to survive the 20-overs, with only 103 on the board.
In the end, Australia cruised towards a much-needed victory by a massive margin, keeping their net run-rate in check, which might turn out to be the decisive factor for their qualification, during the later stages of the tournament.
😁😁 #CmonAussie #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ddPbDBD8ri
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 27, 2020
