ISLAMABAD: The Australian women's cricket team thumped Pakistan by 10 wickets on Wednesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, as Pakistan's batting coach blamed the loss on lack of partnerships.
This was Pakistan women’s team's first series defeat in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 after they won their previous two series held last year. The three-match ODI series kicked off on Monday.
Pakistan, who won the toss and decided to bat first, handed a 126-run target from 43 overs to the hosts. The target proved far from challenging as opening batters Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield scored 129/0 in 19.2 overs.
Litchfield scored 67 off 61 balls and hit 10 boundaries while Mooney scored 57 off 55 balls, hitting six fours. Both batters remained unbeaten.
Earlier, Pakistan’s opening batter Sidra Amin was sent to the pavilion in the second over after having scored only 2 runs. Left-handed batter Muneeba Ali and captain Bismah Maroof added 41 runs for the second wicket before Ali was dismissed after scoring 18 off 41 balls.
Nida Dar came to the team's rescue by scoring a much-needed 24-run innings from 38 balls but ran herself out at the non-striker's end. Maroof, on other hand, scored 21 off 46 balls, hitting one boundary.
Australia's Darcie Brown, who was declared the player of the match, claimed 3/32 figures from the match, while Annabel Sutherland and Alana King bagged two wickets each.
Commenting on the team’s defeat, Pakistan’s batting coach Taufeeq Umer said the team could have done better with a stronger partnership.
“Lack of partnership is the main reason for this performance, besides, Australian conditions are helping the bowlers more as the pitches here have bounce,” Umar said.
“Whenever you come from Pakistan to play here, it takes time to get used to the conditions,” he said, adding that in the upcoming matches, Pakistani batters will have enough potential to get good totals.
“Nida Dar is playing well. It is positive for us that the senior players are in form. I hope we will play better cricket in the coming matches,” he added.
Both teams will now play the third ODI of the series on Saturday, January 21, in Sydney.
