The Australian Women’s cricket team is sitting at the top of the leader board after having won their last three matches since the ICC Women’s World Cup kicked off 10 days ago.
Australia remains undefeated after beating fourth spot holders New Zealand by 141 runs. Both Player of the Match Elyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath scored half-centuries while Ashleigh Gardner made her post-covid isolation return with a well-earned 48 runs.
Captain Elyse Perry said that Gardner’s return to the competition couldn’t have had a better result.
“Ash probably showed just how excited she was to be out of quarantine,” Perry said.
“To do that after ten days of relatively nothing, and also recovering from a pretty nasty illness is just awesome.”
New Zealand was bowled out for 128 runs to see their second loss in the competition. Speaking on the defeat, NZ captain Sophie Devine said that the Australian’s performance was too good.
“The reason we wanted to bowl first was to contain them and get a few more wickets and put the pressure on them,” she said.
“Guess that shows the quality of the Australian side as, even though they were three to four down, ha the run rat under control and were able to launch in the death overs.”
The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals with those positions belonging to Australia, India, South Africa, and New Zealand at this present stage. England, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have yet to claim a win and it is doubtful they will make it into the top four with the competition almost at the halfway point and zero points on the scoreboard.
Australia is set to take on West Indies for the 14th ODI of the match on March 15 at 8am AEST. In subsequent matches the Aussies will face India, South Africa and Bangladesh before the Semi-finals begin after March 25.
