Australia continued their impressive unbeaten run in the ICC Women’s World Cup, securing a dominant six-wicket victory over England in Indore. This stellar performance was spearheaded by all-rounders Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner, who demonstrated exceptional skill and composure.
Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland were instrumental in Australia’s six-wicket triumph over England in the ICC Women’s World Cup in Indore.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Australia’s disciplined attack effectively contained England, restricting them to a total of 244 for 9 wickets. Tammy Beaumont was the standout batter for England, crafting a composed 79 runs off 108 balls. However, frequent wickets throughout the innings prevented England from building significant momentum or accelerating their scoring rate.
Annabel Sutherland led Australia’s bowling charge with an impressive haul of 3 for 60. She was well-supported by Ashleigh Gardner (2/39), Sophie Molineux (2/52), and Alana King (1/20), who all contributed crucial breakthroughs.
England’s innings started brightly, with Beaumont finding her rhythm early, flicking and driving fluently to reach her first half-century of the tournament in just 44 balls. Amy Jones (18) and captain Heather Knight (20) provided brief periods of stability but were quickly dismissed by Sutherland and Molineux’s tight bowling. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s early departure further hampered England’s progress, while Sophia Dunkley (22) struggled to find her rhythm against the sharp lines maintained by King and Molineux. Despite late contributions from Alice Capsey (38) and Charlie Dean (26) which pushed England past the 240-run mark, the side ultimately succumbed to a familiar middle-order collapse.
Australia’s chase began precariously, losing three early wickets for only 24 runs within the first six overs, as Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell exploited the new ball’s movement and maintained excellent accuracy. Beth Mooney (20) briefly stabilized the innings before falling to Smith.
However, from that challenging position, Sutherland and Gardner took complete control. They forged a magnificent, record-breaking 180-run partnership, demonstrating remarkable composure and authority. Gardner’s fluent strokeplay perfectly complemented Sutherland’s solid and aggressive approach, as the pair meticulously rebuilt the innings. They efficiently rotated the strike and punished any loose deliveries, showcasing a masterclass in partnership batting.
Annabel Sutherland, who remained unbeaten on 98, narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century but played a pivotal role in anchoring the chase. Ashleigh Gardner, however, reached her century, finishing not out on 104, guiding Australia to the target with a comfortable 57 balls to spare.
This extraordinary 180-run stand not only sealed a resounding victory for Australia but also highlighted the team’s exceptional batting depth and their remarkable ability to recover from challenging situations. With this commanding performance, Australia confidently reclaimed the top spot on the points table, firmly establishing themselves as tournament favorites. Meanwhile, England was left to reflect on yet another missed opportunity, despite a promising start to their innings.