Defending champions Australia continued their dominant run in the Women’s T20 World Cup, securing a comprehensive 60-run victory over New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday. This triumph has intensified the competition in Group A, where only the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.
Australia currently leads the points table with two wins from two matches, followed by Pakistan and New Zealand. India, who have lost to New Zealand but defeated Pakistan, are fourth, while Sri Lanka is fifth.
India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals hinge on a massive victory over Sri Lanka on Wednesday to improve their run-rate. They must then aim to defeat Australia in their final Group A match, even if they lose, they must ensure a close contest to maintain a superior run-rate.
In the event of a loss, India will rely on New Zealand and Pakistan losing at least one more match. In such a scenario, the team with the highest run-rate will qualify for the semi-finals.
Australia’s batters provided their experienced bowling unit with a solid foundation on a slow wicket, posting a challenging total of 148 for eight. Opener Beth Mooney led the way with a 32-ball 40, while Ellyse Perry contributed a 24-ball 30 and Alyssa Healy chipped in with 26 off 20 deliveries.
In response, New Zealand struggled to keep up with the required run rate, eventually being dismissed for 88 in 19.2 overs. Megan Schutt was the standout performer with the ball, claiming excellent figures of 3/3 in 3.2 overs. Annabel Sutherland (3/21) and Sophie Molineux (2/15) also played crucial roles in restricting New Zealand’s batting.
With this victory, Australia has secured the top spot in Group A, while New Zealand’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals have taken a significant blow. The remaining matches in the group will determine the final standings and the teams that will advance to the knockout stage.
