Australia’s Beth Mooney delivered a masterclass of composure and patience to guide the reigning ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions to a competitive total of 220 against Pakistan, proving once again why she is one of the top batters in world cricket.
A Testing Innings
Mooney described the innings as a mentally demanding effort. “I’m mentally a bit fried now, having spent so much time in my head for the majority of that batting innings,” she admitted post-match. The left-hander carefully navigated the early overs, waiting for the right time to play more expansively.
“I was trying to find out at what point I could start being a little bit more expansive,” Mooney said. “There were messages from the coaches about certain bowlers and different plans, and I tried to take them on board.”
Her strategy, paired with crucial cameos from teammates, ensured Australia posted a defendable total. Kim Garth contributed 11 off 47 balls, holding the innings together, while Alana King smashed an unbeaten 51 off 49 deliveries, finishing the innings in style and marking her first ODI half-century.
Leveraging Team Resources
Mooney credited the support from Australia’s coaching staff for helping her navigate the tricky moments.
“It’s really nice to have obviously Dan Marsh and Shelley Nitschke on the sideline, and Scott Prestwidge and Gav Twining who played a lot of cricket. Any opportunity I got to get a message was really important given the context of the scenario.”
The win demonstrated Australia’s batting depth, with King, batting at number 10, stepping up under pressure. Mooney praised her methodical approach and willingness to learn from both coaches and teammates.
“Kingy works really hard on her batting. Ideally, she’d probably like to bat a little bit higher, but the depth in this Australian team is almost unheard of. Tonight she showed she can play a significant role.”
Australia vs Pakistan: Squads
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vc), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah
Australia’s win keeps their CWC25 campaign on track, highlighting the team’s resilience and adaptability under pressure. With Mooney anchoring the innings and a deep batting lineup, the Aussies look ready for the challenges ahead in the tournament.