GQEBERHA: Megan Schutt-led Australian bowling attack restricted Sri Lanka to 112/8 before their openers Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney led the side to a dominating 10-wicket victory in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Put into bat first, the Sri Lankan batting lineup failed completely and could only raise 112/8 in their allotted 20 overs despite Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 34.
Samarawickrama partnered strongly with skipper Chamari Athapaththu (16) to script a solid start for her side before the latter failed to stretch her knock and perished in the sixth over.
Vishmi Gunaratne then joined Samarawickrama in the middle and added 39 runs for the second-wicket partnership but remained a touch too slow as they conceded 51 deliveries in the process.
Grace Harris, who returned with 2/7 in three overs finally removed Samarawickrama in the 14th over. She remained the top-scorer for her side with 34 off 40 deliveries, laced with three boundaries.
Following her dismissal, Sri Lanka ran into a frustrating collapse and kept losing wickets till the final over with Australia consequently halting them to 112/8.
Schutt led the bowling carnage for Australia with 4/24 in her four overs while Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham struck out a batter apiece.
Set to chase 113, Australia comfortably chased down the total in the 16th over as both their openers Healy and Mooney scored unbeaten half-centuries.
Healy remained the core aggressor of the match-winning stand as she struck a quick 54 off 43 deliveries, while Mooney remained unbeaten with a cautious 53-ball 56.
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