Ashleigh Gardner celebrates after taking a wicket during Australia’s dominant victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Gardner took four wickets, leading Australia to a comfortable nine-wicket win, with Pakistan scoring 82 and Australia chasing it down with 54 balls to spare.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 PAK-W vs AUS-W

Ashleigh Gardner has claimed the four wickets in a dominant victory over Pakistan

Ashleigh Gardner took 4 for 21 © Getty

Pakistan scored 82 in 19.5 overs, where as Australia scored 83/1 in 11 overs.

So, finally Australia beat Pakistan by nine wickets.

Australia extended their dominance in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup with a resounding victory over a struggling Pakistan side in their Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium, marking their 14th consecutive win in the tournament.

Ashleigh Gardner spearheaded the bowling attack with a superb 4 for 21, supported by Georgia Wareham and Annabel Sutherland, who picked up two wickets each, as Pakistan were bundled out for just 82.

Despite Dubai being the more favorable venue for batting in this World Cup, the modest target posed no challenge for Australia, who cruised to victory with 54 balls to spare.

Pakistan, already facing the formidable task of breaking a 15-match losing streak against Australia, were further hampered by the absence of their captain Fatima Sana.

Stand-in skipper Muneeba Ali made a bold move by dropping the out-of-form Gull Feroza, bringing in Sadaf Shamas and Iram Javed for their first appearances of the tournament.

Australia’s sharpness in the field was briefly interrupted by a couple of dropped catches, but they quickly regained control after choosing to bowl first.

Pakistan struggled to 23 for 2 at the end of the Power Play, with Sophie Molineux drawing first blood by dismissing Muneeba.

Sadaf Shamas was next to go, courtesy of a sharp catch by Alyssa Healy off Megan Schutt’s bowling.

Pakistan’s struggles with the bat were exemplified by the fact that they took 49 balls to register their first boundary, hit by Nida Dar.

By then, they had already lost Sidra Amin and Omaima Sohail to Sutherland and Wareham, respectively.

Dar’s attempt to inject some momentum ended when she was stumped after stepping out to Wareham.

Gardner’s wickets came in a late burst, starting in the 17th over.

Iram Javed’s attempted slog sweep resulted in a catch at deep mid-wicket, and in her final over, Gardner dismissed Tuba Hassan, Syeda Aroob, and Nashra Sandhu in quick succession.

Aliya Riaz (26 off 32) was the only batter to offer some resistance, scoring three of Pakistan’s four boundaries before becoming the last wicket to fall.

Australia’s otherwise clinical performance was marred by two injury concerns.

Seamer Tayla Vlaeminck, playing her first T20 World Cup game since 2018, dislocated her shoulder after just four balls when she fell awkwardly while fielding.

Later in the game, Healy retired hurt during Australia’s chase with a suspected calf injury, just 13 runs away from victory, leaving Australia awaiting further details on her condition.

Despite these setbacks, Australia’s batting remained untroubled.

Beth Mooney kick-started the chase with three boundaries in an over off Sadia Iqbal, and Healy continued the onslaught, scoring 37* off 23 balls before her injury.

Australia had already matched Pakistan’s boundary tally by the third over, sealing another emphatic win in their World Cup campaign.

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