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Australia reaffirmed why they continue to be the most formidable side in women’s cricket with yet another commanding performance, this time against arch-rivals England. Despite both teams already having secured qualification for the knockout stages, the Aussies displayed trademark professionalism and hunger, chasing down 244 to seal a clinical victory in the Women’s World Cup.
This win was built on the back of a remarkable 180-run unbroken partnership between Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner, the second-highest fifth-wicket stand or lower in women’s ODIs—only behind the 188-run partnership between England’s Jane Smit and Claire Taylor at the 2000 World Cup in Lincoln.
The successful chase of 244 also marked a new milestone — the highest target ever chased against England Women in a World Cup, surpassing Sri Lanka’s 239-run chase at Brabourne in 2013.
Australia’s stand-in skipper praises spinners and middle-order resolve
Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath was full of praise for her side, particularly the spin attack and the middle order that anchored the chase.
“Very happy. The spinners did a fantastic job with the ball,” McGrath said. “A little bit of a shaky start with the bat, but then Bells (Sutherland) and Ash just woke up. It was clinical — super Bells, though she thoroughly deserved a hundred.”
McGrath singled out Alana King for special praise, acknowledging her as a key matchup against England.
“She’s got a really good record against England and was relentless today. At one point, I was tempted to bowl her ten straight overs because she was on fire,” she added.
Reflecting on the bowling effort, McGrath admitted there were areas to tighten up:
“We missed our lengths a little early and gave away a few too many at the end. But if you told me 244 at the start, I would’ve been stoked.”
Speaking about Annabel Sutherland, McGrath’s admiration was evident:
“She’s such a gun. It’s scary how young she still is. One of our hardest trainers, meticulous in her planning — whenever we’re in trouble, you just turn to Bells.”
On injured captain Alyssa Healy, McGrath said her recovery was being monitored day by day but hinted at positive progress.
England falter after bright start
England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted her team fell short with the bat and struggled to contain Australia’s middle order.
“We didn’t have enough runs, and Alana King bowled really well in the middle overs,” she said. “With the lights coming on, conditions changed, and that partnership just took the game away from us.”
Reflecting on her side’s performance, Sciver-Brunt acknowledged lapses in execution.
“We had patches of building pressure, but the four-ball kept coming. Probably tried too many things. Keeping it simple might have been the better way.”
On Tammy Beaumont’s fine innings, she added:
“She’s been battling really hard in the nets, and it was great to see her get runs today. She was focused and deserved that score.”
Looking ahead, the England skipper remained optimistic:
“We’ll review this game carefully, take the positives, and make sure we’re better next time. We believe we can beat Australia — we just haven’t played our best game yet.”
Sutherland’s brilliance seals the deal
Annabel Sutherland, named Player of the Match, produced a gem of an innings alongside Ashleigh Gardner, steering Australia home with maturity and flair. The duo rotated strike expertly before launching a calculated counterattack that dismantled England’s plans.
“It’s always fun batting with Ash. She keeps the game moving,” Sutherland said after the match. “Once you got in, it was actually a really nice wicket to bat on — fast outfield and value for runs.”
The young all-rounder admitted she had been “tinkering with a few things mentally” to regain confidence after a lean run of scores.
“Just trying to trust my game and stay busy early on,” she said. “I know if I get in, I can cash in.”
Sutherland also credited Australia’s spin department for shifting the momentum earlier in the game.
“The spinners did a fantastic job, particularly Alana King through the middle. She really stole their momentum,” she said.
Her partnership with Gardner was a masterclass in composure under pressure — balancing aggression with patience to guide Australia home without further damage.
Australia unstoppable as business end approaches
This victory further cements Australia’s position as the team to beat in the competition. Even with qualification secured, they showcased trademark discipline, belief, and adaptability — hallmarks of champions.
As McGrath summed it up perfectly:
“For us, it’s about belief from any position that we can win. We’ll fine-tune a few areas but keep that momentum going.”
The win sends a clear message ahead of the knockouts: Australia are still the gold standard in women’s cricket — and every team will have to bring their absolute best to stop them.
