Fatima Sana won the toss and sent the Australians in on a slow, turning wicket. The Experts called this decision into question, since the pitch is expected to deteriorate during the evening. Yet she was vindicated in the short term. Australia began brightly, but Healy continued her distressing pattern of losing patience, and lofted a wayward drive to Diana at mid-wicket. Litchfield experienced an adrenaline rush and hit an atempted swipe straight up in the air. The Australians kept chasing the ball, and the Pakistan spin trio of Sadia, Shamim and Nashra cashed in. They bowled brilliantly, with subtle changes of flight and length, and some sharp spin, and 6/98 from their combined thirty overs was no more than their due.
Perry alone was not really to blame for her dismissal. She advanced down the track to drive Nashra and found the ball exploding off the surface like an adrenaline-soaked firecracker. Sidra whipped the bails off in a trice and Perry was on her way. Sidra Nawaz is certainly the form wicket-keeper in world cricket. She stood up to all the bowlers and did not miss a trick until the final over. Halfway through the 22nd over Australia found themselves hanging over the precipice at 7/76. On pitches like these you must wait for the ball to come to you. The only one who did was Beth Mooney. Amid the carnage she held her nerve and refused to panic. Like many a player before in this tournament her unheard cry must have been for someone to consider staying with me out here?
Kim Garth knuckled down and defended stoutly until a wide from Diana found her momentarily out of her ground. Though completely unsighted Sidra pouched the ball and swept off the bails. At 8/115 Australia was still in a whole world of trouble. Alana King strode to the centre wicket and proceeded to play herself in. At one stage she played out a maiden from one of the spinners; but for the most part she turned the strike over without taking needless risks. And Mooney batted on, delighted to have found such a stalwart companion. The score rose steadily, without fuss. When Mooney brought up her latest and best hundred the crowd erupted in jubilation. Then King took over proceedings. She is a noted belter through bovine corner, but had restrained herself admirably until the final two overs, which went for 34; most of them to King’s ferocious smiting.
Australia probably needs to stop doing this. It is tempting fate to dig yourself into such a cavernous hole and have to excavate your way to safety. And they must be kicking themselves for omitting Molineux, for reasons which escape us. This is assuredly a pitch ideal for her left-arm orthodox bowling. Nevertheless, Mooney (109 from 114) and King (51 no from 49) deserve all the praise showered upon them. Their ninth-wicket stand produced an improbable 106 from 16 overs.
Could Pakistan recover from this reversal of fortune? No, they could not. Kim Garth and Megan Schutt took five wickets in the power play and the match was over. Unless of course they had a Beth Mooney. Sidra Amin has been Pakistan’s only form batsman, and she held the Australians off for a while. But there was to be no second miracle. When Sidra fell to Gardner the last hope was extinguished. All out for 114 left Pakistan at the bottom of the table. Australia, briefly, are on top.