LIVE: Australia eight down in CWC25 clash against Pakistan
After consecutive losses at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the Fatima Sana-led side square up against the defending champions.
Pakistan bowlers made early inroads with the ball during their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash against Australia, reducing the defending champions to seven wickets down in Colombo.
Meanwhile, Beth Mooney and Kim Garth compiled a resilient partnership to come up with a response after a surge of wickets, helping the team past the 100-run mark, with Mooney bringing up a valuable half-century.
Earlier, Nashra Sandhu nabbed three wickets, while Rameen Shamim struck a brace. Skipper Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal also got on the wickets tally.
Iqbal would open the floodgates for Pakistan by trapping Australia captain Alyssa Healy into a false shot. The right-hander, looking to flick the ball away, ended up mistiming the shot straight to Diana Baig at mid-wicket.
Pakistan put Australia under the pump | Powerplay Highlights | CWC25
Pakistan nab early wickets against Australia in the powerplay of their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 clash.
Shortly afterwards, Sana struck, catching Phoebe Litchfield off her own bowling to make it two wickets for Pakistan inside four deliveries.
Nashra Sandhu then weaved her magic with the ball, producing two magical deliveries to send Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland packing.
Dancing down the track, Perry and was deceived by the flight and turn to get stumped. Sandhu then broke through the gates of Sutherland to make it four wickets for Pakistan.
Sandhu would go on to clinch her third wicket by getting the better of Tahlia McGrath as Pakistan tightened their grip on the defending champions.
Lightning fast stumping by Nawaz to dismiss Perry | CWC25
Sidra Nawaz enables a quick stumping to get rid of Ellyse Perry in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and Australia.
From the other end, Rameen Shamim also delivered a brace, getting rid of the in-form Ash Gardner to open her account.
Shamim's second strike was even more impressive as she held onto a low Georgia Wareham catch off her own bowling.
Earlier, Pakistan had won the toss and elected to bowl first against Australia for their face off.
The reigning champions Australia will return to action at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo after their previous fixture at the venue against Sri Lanka was washed out.
Australia had started their tournament with a big win against trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand.
Meanwhile Pakistan are coming off successive defeats against Bangladesh and India in their first two fixtures, and will be eyeing their first points at the ongoing tournament.
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Bowlers inspire India to big win over Pakistan | Match Highlights | CWC25
A well-rounded bowling display helps India make it two wins on a trot at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
Playing XI:
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin, Natalia Pervaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Eyman Fatima, Sidra Nawaz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig
