Australia’s batting firepower overwhelms Netherlands

Australia's batting firepower overwhelms Netherlands

Australia climbed to the top of Group A after their third consecutive win. Half-centuries from Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, plus a blistering cameo from Georgia Wareham, powered them to 219/6 before a commanding 98-run victory.

Asked to bat, Australia made an aggressive start. Despite losing Georgia Voll and Ellyse Perry early, the momentum stayed with Australia. Gardner hit the first six of the innings, Mooney brought up her fifty with consecutive fours, and the Dutch missed two chances to remove Gardner.

Gardner reached her half-century in the 14th over, from which Australia collected 21 runs. Mooney retired hurt with a back spasm, and Gardner holed out immediately after, but Wareham smashed 41 off 18 deliveries as Australia posted 219/6.

The Netherlands never challenged the target. Phebe Molkenboer fell for a duck in the second over, and they managed only two boundaries in the Powerplay, crawling to 28/2. Though Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis put together a 96-run partnership, it came off 91 balls and never threatened. De Leede remained unbeaten on 56 off 57 as the Netherlands finished on 121/3.

The defeat leaves the Netherlands winless in three matches.

Brief Scores: Australia 219/6 (Mooney 74, Gardner 58; Zwilling 3-52) beat Netherlands 121/3 (de Leede 56*, Kalis 44; Garth 2-20) by 98 runs.