SYDNEY: Australia have beaten Pakistan by 101 runs in the 3rd and final ODI here on Saturday, winning the series 3-0.
What has happened here ???? #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/dN5B5h8xfz
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 21, 2023
Chasing a target of 337 runs, Pakistan could score 235 for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs. Australia’s bowling performance was far from polished. They delivered 25 wides. Ash Gardner was outstanding taking 3 for 30. Jess Jonassen picked up two wickets but only bowled five overs. The story of the day for Australia was Beth Mooney’s 135 from 105 balls.
Beth Mooney of Australia was declared both the Player of the Match, and Player of the Series.
Speaking after the defeat, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof said “they’re a good side. Plenty of learnings for us. We wanted to check our bench strength and give some opportunities. They have a future and hopeful they can perform.”
Player of the Match and Player of the Series is Beth Mooney said “it’s always nice to contribute and be part of a great series win for Australia. I’m not sure my body will forgive me tomorrow. It’s nice to contribute and do something a little different to what I’m used to in this team. There’s a lot of learnings for us. We’ll sit down and talk about that. We’ll try to execute our plans better in the T20s.”
Australia captain Meg Lanning said “I thought we stuck it out really well in the field there. The wicket wasn’t offering too much. Pakistan batted well. We set it up nicely with the bat which was great, which we wanted to do today. It was a nice way to finish the series.”
Scratchy at first, Mooney eventually unleashed on Pakistan’s attack with Tuba Hassan copping the worst of the punishment on ODI debut.
The Queenslander hit the legspinner for three straight sixes over the legside – one landing on the top of the roof of the O’Reilly Stand and another bouncing off it and onto the road.
Another six off the spinner was down the ground while she brought up her third ODI hundred when she hit Hassan behind square for four.
It came after Mooney scored 16 from her first 37 balls, before striking 117 from her next 68.
Mooney wasn’t alone in handing out the punishment as Hassan finished with 0-69 from six overs.
Lanning hit the 22-year-old into the window of the commentary box to bring up her own 50.
Pakistan XI: Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof (capt), Sadaf Shamas, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Ayesha Naseem, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu.
Australia XI: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Meg Lanning (capt), Ellyse Perry, Tahl ia McGrath, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
