Australia starts Women’s T20 World Cup title defence with convincing win over Sri Lanka

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 06, Colombo (LNW): Australia began its Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on a strong note, securing a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday (05).

The defending champions outclassed their opponents with both bat and ball, setting the tone for their title defence.

Sri Lanka’s day turned challenging from the outset when captain Chamari Athapaththu opted to bat first.

However, her side struggled against Australia’s disciplined bowling attack, which proved relentless throughout the innings. Sri Lanka managed to post a modest total of 92 runs in their allotted 20 overs, failing to find any significant momentum.

Athapaththu’s decision to bat first did not pay off, as the Australian bowlers, led by a combination of pace and spin, kept the pressure on with tight lines and frequent breakthroughs.

Australia’s chase, however, began shakily, with captain Alyssa Healy and Georgia Wareham departing early. Sri Lanka’s bowlers briefly found a glimmer of hope with these two key dismissals.

Nonetheless, the ever-reliable Beth Mooney stood firm, anchoring the innings with composure and leading Australia to an easy win with more than five overs remaining.

Mooney’s calculated approach ensured that the early setbacks did not derail the chase, as she guided her team across the line.