Aussies off to a flier
Title contenders Australia started their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign in a confident manner whipping minnows Pakistan by 91 runs in their group B league opener, here on Friday.
Opting to bat first, Australian women could manage only 175 in 46.1 overs on a slow Barabati Stadium track but then bowled with a lot of purpose to skittle Pakistan out for a paltry 84 in 33.2 overs. Veteran all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar contributed an useful 32 and then bowled nine overs of controlled off-breaks to grab two for 19. Another notable performer was Sarah Coyte who took three wickets and scored 35 runs.
Australian batswomen didn’t have a good day as only opener Rachel Haynes (39) and Sarah Coyte (35) were the only other two, who crossed the 30-run mark barring Sthalekar. The Australian total was propped up by the 17 wides bowled by Pakistani women. Left-arm spinner Sadia Yousuf was the pick of the bowlers grabbing three for 30.
Score board
AUSTRALIA: Meg Lanning lbw Siddiqi 17; Rachael Haynes (run out) 39; Jess Cameron (run out) 7; Alex Blackwell lbw Iqbal 18; Lisa Sthalekar b Yousuf 32; Jodi Fields lbw Iqbal 1; Ellis Perry c Fatima b Yousuf 0; Sarah Coyte (not out) 35; Megan Schutt (run out) 0; Renee Chappel b Yousuf 5; Holly Ferling (run out) 0; Extras (LB-4, W-17) 21; Total (all out, 46.1 overs) 175
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-39, 3-83, 4-88, 5-90, 6-99, 7-144, 8-148, 9-174.
Bowling: Qanita Jalil 8-0-31-0, Sumaiya Siddiqi 8-1-27-1, Asmavia Iqbal 9-0-36-2, Sana Mir 10-0-42-0, Sadia Yousuf 9.1-0-30-3, Bismah Maroof 2-0-5-0.
PAKISTAN: Sana Mir b Schutt 2; Nahida Khan c Cameron b Perry 10; Nain Abidi lbw Coyte 7; Bismah Maroof c Fields b Perry 43; Javeria Khan b Coyte 5; Sidra Ameen lbw Ferling 1; Asmavia Iqbal c Fields b Ferling 0; Qanita Jalil c Perry b Sthalekar 0; Batool Fatima c Blackwell b Sthalekar 4; Sumaiya Siddiqi b Coyte 1; Sadia Yousuf (not out) 1; Extras (B-4, LB-5, W-1, NB-1) 8; Total (all out, 33.2 overs) 84.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-18, 3-39, 4-49, 5-55, 6-57, 7-58, 8-68, 9-77.
Bowling: Perry 5.2-0-18-2, Megan Schutt 5-2-7-1, Sarah Coyte 10-3-20-3, Lisa Sthalekar 9-3-19-2, Holly Ferling 3-1-10-2, Renne Chappel 1-0-1-0.
