Mooney and Aley excel for Australia
Thu 22 Jun 2017
by Harry Josephs
Australia and Pakistan finished their ICC Women’s World Cup preparations with a warm-up fixture at Grace Road today.
On an overcast morning, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl. Conditions favoured the Australians and the first wicket fell in the eleventh over when Ayesha Zafar was caught by captain Meg Lanning off the bowling of Belinda Vakarewa for 21.
This bought Marina Iqbal to the wicket; however, she was quickly dismissed for 0 bowled by Jess Jonassen.
Pakistan were 78-2 after 20 overs and set themselves a decent platform for the last 30 overs. Opener, Nahida Khan, bought up her 50 off 54 balls, including seven fours.
Nahida was dismissed for 51 off 57 balls and Nain Abidi followed, lbw, to Beams for 3. Pakistan were struggling to build partnerships with Kainat Imtiaz bowled by Jonassen for 7. Bismah Maroof had a key role to play for Pakistan again but once she was dismissed for 39 off 70 balls, Pakistan had to rebuild again.
Asmavia Iqbal attempted to add impetus to the innings but was stumped by Healy off the bowling of Aley for 12. Pakistan captain Sana Mir (4) followed soon after, leaving Pakistan 152-8 with 5.5 overs remaining.
Waheeda Akhtar went second ball, Healy taking a good catch standing up to the stumps off the bowling of Aley. Pakistan were bowled out for 156. Australia’s stand out bowlers were Jonassen, 3-23, and Sarah Aley who finished with the best figures of 4-16.
Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney opened the batting for Australia; both batsmen looked in superb touch with plenty of pleasant drives both down the ground and through the covers. The opening pair bought up their 50 partnership in the ninth over.
Bolton departed in the 12th over, caught at point off the bowling of Baig for 31. Captain Meg Lanning came to the wicket and started positively, hitting a four second ball.
Opener Mooney went through to 50 off 56 deliveries, a knock that included nine fours. Two balls later Australia bought up their 100 in the 17th over, Mooney hitting a superb drive over extra cover. This left Australia needing just 54 from 33 overs.
Lanning and Mooney bought up their 50 partnership in just 6.2 overs. Mooney retired for 63 bringing Haynes to the crease with Australia requiring 16 to win. Haynes and Lanning were not out at the end, Australia winning by eight wickets, Lanning 40* and Haynes 14*.
* In today’s other warm up game at Oakham School, South Africa comprehensively beat the West Indies. West Indies were bowled out for 63, Masabata Klaas doing most of the damage taking four wickets for just 16 runs, and there were also three run outs.
South Africa reached their target four wickets down, Laura Woolvaardt top scoring with 26. South Africa play their first game at Grace Road against Pakistan, this Sunday. Tickets are still available through the following link HERE
Photo credit: ICC/Getty Images
