Australia have continued their unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 after defeating Bangladesh by five wickets at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Friday.
Experienced campaigner Beth Mooney smashed an unbeaten 66 to help her side gun down a target of 136 in a rain-affected game. The Meg Lanning-led side lost a few early wickets before Mooney’s heroics, and a cameo from Annabel Sutherland (26 no) helped them cross the finishing line.
Earlier, Bangladesh had managed to post 135/6 on the board after the contest was reduced to 43 overs per side due to rain. Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner and left-armer Jess Jonassen shared four wickets while conceding 36 runs from 17 overs. Lata Mondal (33) and Sharmin Akhter (24) were the top scorers for Bangladesh.
“Today was about finding a way to get through and win, we had to fight. Bangladesh played extremely well and put us under pressure. It was a really positive performance in the end from Mooney and Sutherland to get us over the line. (The conversation with the umpires) It was just about how dark it was. They were bowling spin, so it was fine tonight, but if Darcie Brown was bowling, it might have been hard to see. That’s the way the conditions were, and I thought they did a good job to keep us out there,” said Lanning after the match.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
We repeat, Beth Mooney = rock solid.
Aussies needing 29 runs from 94 balls! #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/5P3ymcjRw8
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) March 25, 2022
Never fear Mooney is here!!!! #CWC22
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) March 25, 2022
A huge knock from Beth Mooney and Australia wins by five wickets 🙌 👏 https://t.co/WT2CxT6g0X
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 25, 2022
want to have something in my own life that is as consistently amazing as beth mooney https://t.co/ksbtA22v6c
— Clare Cosy (@ClareCosy) March 25, 2022
What is this Beth Mooney made of? 🙌🏼👏🏼 #CWC22
— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) March 25, 2022
Beth Mooney is too underrated, she needs to be recognised & hailed a lot more. She almost always turns up in big matches or when the team is under the pump! 👍👍
— Cricketjeevi (@wildcardgyan) March 25, 2022
Beth Mooney (66*) gets Australia home again, wonderfully assisted by Annabel Sutherland who finishes on 26*.
Great test for Australia that ahead of the semi-finals. Brilliant fight from Bangladesh after they only posted 6-135. #CWC22
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 25, 2022
