Hello and welcome to our live coverage!
We are all set for an exciting ICC Women’s World Cup match between Bangladesh and Australia. The undefeated Aussies are riding high after a commanding win over India, while Bangladesh is keen to turn their fortunes around after three consecutive losses to England, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The atmosphere is electric as both teams line up for the national anthems, a moment of immense pride before the fierce competition begins. The crowd’s anticipation is palpable, setting the stage for a memorable match.
Pitch Report: Cricket experts Mel Jones and Carlos Brathwaite described the ACA-VDCA Stadium pitch as an excellent batting surface—flat and hard. Its generous boundaries (67m straight, 57m square) are perfect for power-hitting. Brathwaite suggested batters leverage sweeps and reverse sweeps, drawing inspiration from Alyssa Healy’s masterful innings against India, especially against Bangladesh’s impressive spinners. However, he cautioned against the pace of Darcie Brown and Megan Schutt, who will be keen to strike early with the new ball.
What the Skippers Said:
Australian captain Alyssa Healy expressed her enthusiasm for playing at this familiar venue, highlighting the good weather and anticipation for a fresh challenge. She confirmed two changes for Australia: Darcie Brown comes in for Kim Garth, and Georgia Wareham replaces Sophie Molineux, a move to keep the squad energized after demanding recent matches.
Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana shared her team’s determination to bat first, aiming to capitalize on the pitch conditions and score big, after falling short in their previous match. With two strategic changes and a confident bowling attack, they are focused on giving their absolute best.
Playing XIs:
Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy (C & WK), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
Bangladesh Women (Playing XI): Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana Joty (C & WK), Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Mst Ritu Moni, Nishita Akter Nishi, Fariha Trisna.
TOSS: Bangladesh Women won the toss and opted to bat first.
The game is about to begin! Bangladesh’s openers, Rubya Haider and Fargana Hoque, stride to the crease, ready to face Australia’s Megan Schutt with the new ball. All eyes are on how Bangladesh will kick off their innings.
Overs 0.1: Bangladesh gets off to a flying start! Megan Schutt bowls fuller and drifting down leg, which Fargana Hoque elegantly tickles past the deep fine leg for an early boundary. A slight fumble in the field ensures the four.
Overs 0.2: Hoque confidently blocks a good length delivery on off.
Overs 0.3: A back-of-a-length ball nips back in, but Hoque tucks it safely to mid-wicket.
Overs 0.4: She defends a delivery on the stumps across the line.
Overs 0.5: Another inswinger on a good length is met with a solid block from Hoque.
Overs 0.6: The first over concludes with Hoque defending a good length ball. Score after 1 over: 4 – 0
Darcie Brown will take the ball from the opposite end.
Overs 1.1: Darcie Brown opens her spell with a challenging hard-length delivery that swings away, left untouched by Rubya Haider.
Overs 1.2: Haider is beaten by an away-nipping good length ball, swinging and missing.
Overs 1.3: A short, wide ball is missed as Haider attempts a cut, failing to connect.
Overs 1.4: FOUR! Australia’s fielding has been uncharacteristically sloppy. Rubya Haider’s outside edge off a good length ball is fumbled by Beth Mooney at first slip, deflecting to the third man boundary. Another lucky boundary for Bangladesh!
Overs 1.5: Haider manages an inside edge onto her pads, sneaking a single through the slips as an LBW appeal is turned down.
Overs 1.6: Hoque comfortably plays a good length ball to square leg. Score after 2 overs: 9 – 0
Overs 2.1: Schutt returns, bowling full and wide outside off. Haider attempts a drive but misses, with Healy keeping close behind the stumps.
Overs 2.2: Another fuller delivery, and Haider swings in vain.
Overs 2.3: Schutt bowls a good length, wide of off, beating Haider with outward movement.
Overs 2.4: FOUR! Despite the boundary, Schutt and Healy might not be too concerned. Rubya Haider, reaching for a length ball that shapes away, gets an outside edge that races past gully for another four.
Overs 2.5: Haider pushes a wide good length ball through cover for a single.
Overs 2.6: Schutt switches to over the wicket against Fargana Hoque, bowling a good length wide of off, which Hoque misses on the drive. Score after 3 overs: 14 – 0
Overs 3.1: Darcie Brown continues, with Haider blocking a good length delivery that shaped away.
Overs 3.2: Brown delivers a sharp bouncer. Haider mistimes her pull shot, but the ball falls safely in front of silly mid-off.
Overs 3.3: Haider pushes a good length ball to extra cover.
Overs 3.4: A well-pitched-up delivery is driven through point by Haider for two runs.
Overs 3.4 (WIDE): Brown errs, bowling a high bouncer, called a Wide.
Overs 3.5: Haider pushes a hard-length delivery to cover-point.
Overs 3.6: Haider rocks back to block a back-of-a-length ball. Score after 4 overs: 17 – 0
Overs 4.1: Megan Schutt bowls a length ball around off, Hoque drives it to mid-off.
Overs 4.2: A very full delivery from Schutt is blocked by Hoque.
Overs 4.3: Hoque pushes a good length ball straight to the fielder.
Overs 4.4: Hoque steps inside the line and flicks a leg-side delivery for a single.
Overs 4.5: Haider pushes a good length ball, moving away, to mid-off.
Overs 4.6: Schutt bowls round the wicket, with Haider tucking a length ball to mid-wicket. Score after 5 overs: 18 – 0
Overs 5.1: Darcie Brown bowls on middle and leg, Hoque flicks it through square leg for a single.
Overs 5.2: FOUR! Rubya Haider charges down the pitch, flashing her bat at a length ball shaping away, and gets a fortunate outside edge past Beth Mooney at first slip for a boundary.
Overs 5.3: A back-of-a-length delivery outside off is wisely left by Haider.
Overs 5.4: Another length ball angling away, and Haider once again opts to leave it.
Overs 5.5: FOUR! This is Bangladesh’s most confident boundary yet! Darcie Brown bowls full on the pads, and Rubya Haider elegantly flicks it through mid-wicket for a well-deserved four.
Overs 5.6: Haider nudges a good length ball on the pads through square leg for a comfortable couple. Score after 6 overs: 29 – 0
Overs 6.1: Megan Schutt bowls a length delivery down leg, tucked to fine leg by Hoque for one.
Overs 6.2: Haider plays a good length ball on middle and leg to mid-wicket.
Overs 6.3: DROPPED! Rubya Haider gets a crucial reprieve on 22! Schutt tempts her with a full, away-swinging delivery, and Haider’s outside edge is dropped by Phoebe Litchfield at first slip, who dove to her right but couldn’t hold on.
Overs 6.4: A full, wide delivery is swung at and missed by Haider.
Overs 6.5: Haider blocks a good length ball on off.
Overs 6.6: A harmless length ball, wide of off, is wisely left alone by Haider. Score after 7 overs: 30 – 0
Overs 7.1: Darcie Brown bowls a length ball around off, driven to point by Hoque.
Overs 7.2: A full, wide delivery is dabbed to gully by Fargana Hoque.
Overs 7.3: Hoque blocks a good length ball on off.
Overs 7.4 (WIDE): Brown bowls a bouncer deemed too high, called a Wide.
Overs 7.4: Fargana Hoque drops a length ball to the right of Ashleigh Gardner at point for a quick single. A direct hit from Gardner at the non-striker’s end would have seen Rubya Haider run out, but the stumps are missed.
Overs 7.5: Haider steps down and blocks a good length ball on off.
Overs 7.6: Haider rocks back and blocks a back-of-a-length delivery. Score after 8 overs: 32 – 0
Overs 8.1: Megan Schutt bowls a length ball around off, cleanly blocked by Hoque.
Overs 8.2: Hoque punches a good length ball to cover.
Overs 8.3: A back-of-a-length ball on off is defended by Hoque, rising with the bounce.
Overs 8.4: Hoque pokes tentatively at a wide length ball and is beaten.
Overs 8.5: Hoque defends a good length ball on off.
Overs 8.6: WICKET! CAUGHT! Australia finally gets the breakthrough! Megan Schutt’s length delivery, slightly wide of off, tempts Fargana Hoque into an expansive drive. She gets a thick outside edge that flies to Beth Mooney’s right at first slip. Mooney dives acrobatically and takes a superb catch to dismiss Hoque. Bangladesh loses their first wicket! Score after 9 overs: 32 – 1
Sharmin Akhter is the new batter in for Bangladesh.
Overs 9.1: DROPPED AGAIN! Rubya Haider receives her second life on 22! Darcie Brown’s good length delivery, seaming away, catches Haider’s outside edge. Alyssa Healy, diving to her left, gets to the ball but puts it down with hard hands. A golden chance missed by the Australian captain!
Overs 9.2: Haider keeps out a good length ball on off.
Overs 9.3: A slightly fuller delivery on off is left by Haider.
Overs 9.4: Haider rises onto her toes and punches a back-of-a-length ball through cover-point for a single.
Overs 9.5: Sharmin Akhter blocks Darcie Brown’s delivery. Score after 10 overs: 33 – 1