Ash Gardner took three wickets in an over as Australia romped to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The defending champions skittled Pakistan for 82 in Sharjah and knocked off the target with a full nine overs to spare.
Australia’s third win of the tournament came at a cost, however, as Tayla Vlaeminck dislocated her shoulder while trying to stop a boundary in the first over and captain Alyssa Healy retired hurt with a calf injury.
Pakistan, meanwhile, were without their skipper Fatima Sana who returned home after the death of her father.
Pre-tournament, they preached a new mantra of aggression in the powerplay but once again lost too many wickets to double down on that philosophy.
Stand-in captain Muneeba Ali was the first to go, slapping Sophie Molineux to midwicket, and in-form Megan Schutt then nicked off Sadaf Shamas for three. In the process, Schutt overtook Nida Dar as the leading wicket-taker in T20I history with 144 scalps and counting.
Wickets continued to tumble as Sidra Amin was trapped in front by Annabel Sutherland and Omaima Sohail only picked out Gardner at midwicket while trying to clear the rope, as Pakistan sunk to 29 for four.
Nida Dar was the obvious candidate to lead a rebuild but she was stumped by Healy off Wareham for 10 and it was left to Aliya Riaz and Iram Javed to drop anchor.
Aliya found the boundary on three occasions as Iram played a waiting game before the latter fell for 12 when she skied one of the bowling of Molineux.
Gardner struck three times in the penultimate over, accounting for Tuba Hassan, Syeda Aroob Shah and Nashra Sandhu for the addition of only two runs, with Sutherland dismissing Aliya with the last delivery of the innings.
Australia started the run chase in typically aggressive fashion as Mooney carved Sadia Iqbal for three fours. Sadia had the last laugh in her next over as Mooney, trying to force the issue once again, could only find Aliya.
Healy hit her stride to reach 37 from 23 balls, highlighted by a particularly fine punch over extra cover in the ninth over, before the 34-year-old went down clutching her calf after taking a two and hobbled off.
Gardner, who took the plaudits with the ball, helped Ellyse Perry accumulate the last few runs and orchestrate a nine-wicket win.
Australia have now won all 30 completed matches they’ve played against Pakistan in all formats and have put themselves in pole position to reach the knockout stages with just a heavyweight clash with India to come.
Scores in brief
Pakistan v Australia, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Pakistan 82 all out in 19.5 overs (Aliya Riaz 26, Sidra Ameen 12; Ash Gardner 4/21, Annabel Sutherland 2/15)
Australia 83-1 in 11 overs (Alyssa Healy 37, Ellyse Perry 22 not out; Sadia Iqbal 1/17)
Result: Australia won by nine wickets
