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Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner lead Australia to a six-wicket victory over England in the Women’s World Cup.
Ashleigh Gardner celebrates her century with Australia’s Annabel Sutherland (Picture credit: AP)
All-rounders Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner shared an unbeaten 180-run stand, leading Australia to a comprehensive six-wicket win against arch-rivals England in their Women’s World Cup game on Wednesday.
Spinners Alana King (1/20), Sophie Molineux (2/52), Gardner (2/39) and pacer Sutherland (3/60) restricted England to a modest 244 for nine despite Tammy Beaumont’s patient 79 off 108 balls after choosing to bowl.
Sutherland (98 not out) capped off a fine day by anchoring the run chase, rescuing Australia from a shaky start and guiding them home alongside Gardner (104 not out), who complemented Sutherland with her fluent strokeplay.
With this win, Australia not only maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament but also reclaimed the top spot on the points table.
Chasing a below-par target, Australia found themselves in early trouble at 24 for three inside six overs, as the English new-ball pair of Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell hit consistent lengths and removed the top order cheaply.
However, Australia’s renowned batting depth once again proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Beth Mooney (20) steadied the innings in a 44-run stand with Sutherland, before Gardner joined the 24-year-old all-rounder, as the Australians hit boundaries at will, reaching the target with 57 balls to spare.
Earlier, Beaumont gave England a strong start while Alice Capsey (38) and Charlie Dean (26) put up an important 61-run partnership towards the end of the innings as England suffered yet another familiar collapse.
King demonstrated why she remains one of the most skilful wrist spinners in the game.
Beaumont set the tone early, flicking her first delivery through square leg for four before lofting Kim Garth over mid-wicket for a majestic six. She then drove crisply through the covers, exuding composure and timing as she settled into her rhythm.
At the other end, Amy Jones (18) got going with three well-placed boundaries off Megan Schutt, punishing anything too full or wide.
Beaumont, looking increasingly confident, continued to target Garth, who struggled to find consistency, dispatching her for three more crisp boundaries in a single over.
She whipped the first delivery off her pads through mid-wicket, then added another in the same region to reach her first fifty of the tournament off 44 balls.
The openers added 55 for the first wicket, giving England a solid platform.
However, Sutherland’s introduction into the attack brought immediate dividends for Australia as she produced a gem of a delivery to knock back Jones’ off stump.
The dismissal halted England’s momentum just as they looked poised for a big partnership. Beaumont then briefly found support in skipper Heather Knight (20) as the pair added 35 runs for the second wicket.
Molineux broke the stand by trapping Knight, while King sent back Nat Sciver-Brunt cheaply, reducing England to a precarious position.
With pressure mounting, Sophia Dunkley (22) joined Beaumont, but the flow of boundaries dried up as King and Molineux operated in tandem, strangling the scoring rate with tight lines and clever variations.
Dunkley never looked settled, and the mounting pressure began to tell. Trying to shift gears, Beaumont attempted to break free with a few boundaries, but her aggressive intent eventually proved costly.
Beaumont mis-timed a slower ball, lofting it straight to long-on, where Georgia Voll completed a brilliant catch close to the boundary rope.
(With PTI Inputs)
Navi Mumbai Panvel Raigarh, India, India
October 22, 2025, 21:46 IST
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