Injury cloud mars crushing Australia’s Women’s T20 World Cup win over Pakistan

Australia effectively locked up a semi-final spot at the Women’s T20 World Cup with the biggest of the four consecutive thrashings they have dealt in this tournament, this time with Pakistan as the unlucky recipient by 113 runs. The result sets up a virtual elimination final for India: assuming the South Africans do the job against underpowered sides in Netherlands and Bangladesh, India will have to beat Australia at Lord’s on Sunday in order to take the other semi-final spot in Group A.

The first over of the day was the only time Australia were challenged, as opener Beth Mooney drove at the first ball of the innings from left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, only to be held by a sensational one-handed catch from Gull Feroza at first slip. Australia’s banker for a golden duck, then Ash Gardner smacking a catch to deep midwicket from her second ball, should have been good news for Pakistan. In between times, though, Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll smashed an even 100 runs inside 10 overs, aided by a bouquet of wides.

Seamers Fatima Sana and Diana Baig were both guilty of sending deliveries past the pads towards the fine leg fence, as well as dishing up short balls on a bouncy Headingley track that perfectly suited players who enjoy cross-bat swings. The real story was the dominance of Perry. About to enter her 20th year of international cricket, the all-rounder continues a decades-long process of reinvention, today adding rarely-glimpsed scoop shots to her repertoire on her way to her second-fastest half-century in the format, raised from 30 balls.

Within one boundary of her highest T20 score for Australia, Perry gloved a bouncer from Fatima, the all-rounder who has named Perry as her childhood idol. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo in 2023, Fatima recalled being too nervous to speak to the Australian when they first played against one another, but promised that “next time I will [get her out]”. Now she has made good on the promise.

That didn’t stop Australia from charging on to a score of 199, and while Pakistan’s spinners collected six wickets alongside Fatima’s one, that was more down to the fact that the batting side’s accelerator-down approach did not falter. Using all of one’s resources is the ultimate T20 tactic, and with a team that bats all the way through the XI, the Australians can go harder than anyone. Voll made another muscular 39, Annabel Sutherland a fast 27, and Nicola Carey iced the innings with placement rather than power for an unbeaten 26 from 13 balls.

Pakistan have never had the batting power to credibly challenge a chase of 200, and while keeper-opener Muneeba Ali got a rare points victory over Kim Garth, pulling her for a truly enormous six in between lashing fours in Garth’s opening spell, Feroza became the first of three frantic run-outs, the form of dismissal that has become a sad hallmark of Pakistan’s campaign. The other seven wickets fell to desperate swings that either missed completely or found the field, including one to Perry with her first ball, with eight bowlers used out of the nine that this Swiss Army Knife team can cycle through.

The only concern for Australia will be the fitness of Mooney, who seemingly dislocated a finger while keeping up to the stumps to the brisk Garth. Having already retired hurt during Australia’s last start against Netherlands, with a stiff back concerning enough to abandon a possible century during a blazing 74 not out, Mooney stayed in the XI for this match but needed two lengthy medical breaks to sort out her right hand after the blow, including a full-body wince when the finger was first put back in place. She stayed in position thereafter, but will surely be under observation, with reserve keeper Phoebe Litchfield still on the injury list herself.

That might offer Australia one incentive to see India qualify, because if India finish second in the group, they will play the first semi-final next week given its timeslot better suits Indian televison. If India don’t make the semis, that match reverts to being played by the top team in the group. India’s presence would buy Australia’s sore players two more days to recover, and semi-finals have been this team’s recent stumbling block. Group stage dominance is all well and good, but what really matters is coming next.

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