Beth Mooney century rescues Australia in win against Pakistan - Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

Beth Mooney’s first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup century rescued Australia en route to a 107-run win over Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.

Mooney batted the Australian women’s cricket team out of a hole having been reduced to 76/7 in the 22nd over and she was ably supported by Alana King.

The pace bowlers quickly took control of Pakistan’s chase before spin dealt with the bottom order to secure an eventually comfortable win.

Skipper Alyssa Healy batted herself into a decent position but was left frustrated after sending a simple catch to Diana Baig to see her depart for 20 from 23.

Phoebe Litchfield fell three balls later and the wobble was firmly on as Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner all departed for low single figures.

Nashra Sandhu (3/37) and Rameen Shamim (2/29) shared the wickets of that trio and picked up the next two between them as the Pakistan women’s cricket team turned the screw with eyes on a first-ever win over Australia.

Tahlia McGrath fell for five before Georgia Wareham departed for a duck as the spin twins were both economical and effective.

At 76/7, the Australian cricket team desperately needed someone to stick with Mooney, who after coming in at No. 4 was masterfully rotating the strike and avoiding the aerial shots that had caused her team-mates so many problems.

Kim Garth proved to be an able running partner, with the fast bowler making 11 off 47 balls before she was stumped by Sidra Nawaz down the leg side in a wonderful display of wicketkeeping.

There was only a little panic from Australia, finding themselves at 115 for eight, as King came in to support Beth Mooney with big hitting so often a feature of her innings.

However, the spinner kept things calm as Mooney neared her century, which she duly reached with a single, her first World Cup 100 coming from 110 balls.

From there, the pairing went big, as their partnership passed 100 and only ended on the final ball as Mooney was caught for 109 from 114 balls.

Alana King provided 51 from 49 balls including three sixes to become the first batter in women’s ODIs to score a fifty while batting at number 10 or lower.

It meant that after suffering an almighty scare, Australia had recovered to set Pakistan 222 to win.

While spin had done for the majority of Australia’s wickets, they relied on pace with Megan Schutt having been brought in to replace Sophie Molineux.

A steady start to Pakistan's chase was required but Sadaf Shamas departed for five as she was caught behind by Alyssa Healy off the bowling of Kim Garth on review.

Annabel Sutherland took a low catch for Schutt’s first wicket before the experiment to send Sidra Nawaz higher up the order did not work out as she was dismissed for five by Garth.

With Natalia Pervaiz and Eyman Fatima falling cheaply, Pakistan slipped to 31/5 inside the ninth over.

Sutherland became the third pace bowler to pick up a wicket as skipper Fatima had to return to the hutch.

Sidra Amin dug in but became the first wicket to spin in the innings as Gardner dismissed her for 35, while Georgia Wareham picked up the next wicket to leave Pakistan 86/8.

King was the third of the spin trio to earn a wicket as she broke a building partnership before Sutherland bowled Rameen to secure Australia their second win of the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.

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