Australia win by 10 wickets, with 25.1 overs to spare
That, it must be said, was a display of piss-taking by this Australian team. England struggled to chase a score against Bangladesh, South Africa struggled to chase a score against Bangladesh, and now the Aussies have come out and done inside 25 overs without losing a wicket. And that means their semi-final spot is locked up.
It was a really poor performance by Bangladesh in the field, though. So many runs given away, dropped catches, missed stumpings. A shame, because while you wouldn’t call their batting performance dominant, it had a plan and some sense, and it gave them something to bowl at in the manner of their performances against England and South Africa.
Rubya Haider got them off to a good start with her well paced 44, with Sharmin Akhter Supta riding shotgun. There was a very slow period through the middle when Alana King and then Georgia Wareham kept prising out wickets while giving away very few runs, but Sobhana Mostary was terrific, continuing to score with the tail, and ending up on 66 not out with the support of the No11 Trisna. It was the first ever Bangladesh 50 against Australia in this format.
A score of 198 at least gave Bangladesh a chance, and it was their highest score against Australia. But they weren’t expecting to be chastened in the way that Healy did it today. That’s a shame for a team that continues to be competitive in parts of matches, but against the top side that was still a long way off.
25th over: Australia 198-0 (Healy 113, Litchfield 84)
And it’s done! Five balls into the over, Litchfield straight drives Trisna for a boundary for the second time in the over. One ball short of the halfway mark.
Century! Alyssa Healy 100 from 73 balls
24th over: Australia 192-0 (Healy 112, Litchfield 75)
Back to back centuries. She did it in the 2022 World Cup, in the semis and the final, and she’s repeated the feat this time around. Didn’t make an ODI century in the interim, but Healy is producing scores at the right time. She’s the tournament leader for this edition now as well, having passed Sophie Devine today. And after running a single for her 100th run, she opens up against Ritu Moni with three fours in a row over the off side, backing away to carve to cover and point.
23rd over: Australia 177-0 (Healy 98, Litchfield 74)
The partnership keeps working, both players getting aggressive with sweeps now against Rabeya as the leggie comes back on to bowl, a boundary apiece.
22nd over: Australia 166-0 (Healy 96, Litchfield 68)
On they race, Litchfield with a gorgeous cover drive after a half step down at Fahima’s spin, Healy with a precision sweep. Two fielders converge behind square and nearly collide, as the ball splits them to perfection.
21st over: Australia 155-0 (Healy 88, Litchfield 62)
Healy is charging towards back-t0-back hundreds. Moni tries to cramp her for room by following her outside leg stump, but Healy keeps on backing further away and smears a pull shot wide of long on, then steps almost off the pitch to make room for a straight drive.
20th over: Australia 145-0 (Healy 79, Litchfield 61)
Oh, that’s an absolute botch by Pinky. Shorna Akhter comes on, the third leggie. Loops one down, gets a high top edge from Healy. Gently lobbing towards short fine leg. But Pinky doesn’t move. Doesn’t take a step. She must have lost it completely in the lights. At the last second she lunges forward, too late, as the ball lands in front of her. Healy punishes the bowler with a couple of swept fours, including another bad misfield from Fahima on the rope, straight through her again. Bangladesh did a good job with the bat, in the circumstances, but their fielding today has been dire.
19th over: Australia 132-0 (Healy 67, Litchfield 60) An unusual Healy shot, the lofted off drive. She spanks fuller balls over mid on a lot more often, or over cover. But makes an exception for Ritu Moni’s moderate pace, then dabs a couple with restraint. Nine off the over with very little fuss.
18th over: Australia 123-0 (Healy 59, Litchfield 59)
Another misfield, another boundary. The Bangladeshis have not coped with the ball spinning off the surface when there’s slice on the shot. Litchfield’s pull has plenty of revs on the ball, and it kicks away from the square leg fielder on the first bounce, as what should have been a dot ball becomes four.
17th over: Australia 117-0 (Healy 58, Litchfield 54)
Ooh, a bit streaky from Healy. Last ball of Trisna’s over, the Australian captain is drawn in by width. She loves a cover drive at any time, and goes for this. It strikes high on the bat, though, and floats very high over the infield. Still reaches the boundary, but with a cover sweeper running around, it wasn’t far away from danger.
Half century! Phoebe Litchfield 50 from 46 balls
16th over: Australia 110-0 (Healy 53, Litchfield 52)
And a milestone for Litchfield. We’ve settled into singles mode at the moment, four from the last over, five from Ritu Moni here.
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Half century! Alyssa Healy 50 from 43 balls
15th over: Australia 105-0 (Healy 51, Litchfield 49)
Trisna gets another go, and this time Healy doesn’t slap her out of the attack. Instead she takes a single to raise her fifty.
14th over: Australia 101-0 (Healy 49, Litchfield 47)
Stumping missed! Joty is usually quick to scold her fielders when they mess up, but this time it’s her replacement keeper Rubya Haider. Litchfield stepping onto the dancefloor again, throwing an angled bat at Moni’s ball angled across her, and missing. Keeping up to the stumps, the extra pace does for the keeper, the ball ricocheting off the heels of her hands.
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13th over: Australia 99-0 (Healy 48, Litchfield 46)
More aggression from Litchfield, in Fahima’s first over. The lanky leg-spinner has had some good moments with the ball in this tournament too, but bowls a floaty delivery that gives Litchfield so much time to come down the pitch, meet it, and lift it over long off. That’s followed by Healy also charging, and once again dragging across the line a bit but hitting it well enough for four.
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12th over: Australia 86-0 (Healy 43, Litchfield 38)
Good over from Ritu Moni, with her seamers. On a length, then in at the feet, then fielding well off her own bowling. Litchfield takes three balls to get off strike. Healy survives an lbw shout, going down leg, but it beat the bat at least.
11th over: Australia 85-0 (Healy 43, Litchfield 37)
Rabeya with the bad luck as the bowler now, Litchfield edging through a vacant slip. Ritu Moni chases back and gets a hand to the ball on the slide, but knocks it into the path of her own body and then to the rope.
10th over: Australia 78-0 (Healy 41, Litchfield 32)
Oh, missed! Not sure you can call it a drop, Fahima at midwicket barely gets a finger to it, but might have been slow to react. Healy pulls Ritu Moni hard, in the air, above head height for Fahima, but had the fielder jumped at the right time she would have reached that. Whether she would have held it, at the pace it was travelling, is another matter. Might have been another player off with a finger injury. Healy follows up with a bottom edge past the keeper for four more.
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9th over: Australia 65-0 (Healy 30, Litchfield 30)
Another boundary to end Rabeya’s over. This is more of a smear from Healy, off a length through wide long on, but her bat speed is fast enough to set it racing, even if it wasn’t the most crisp contact.
8th over: Australia 59-0 (Healy 25, Litchfield 29)
Another big over, three boundaries for Litchfield. Clear mentality from Australia to avoid doing what South Africa did, which was to let Bangladesh’s bowlers get into a groove and keep the scoring rate down. Litchfield comes across her stumps and kneels, I wonder if she was thinking of sweeping first? Looks like she adjusts somewhat while on the move, and ends up scooping the ball over her shoulder away through fine leg for four.
Following that she drives one through cover that sees Sharmin Akhter leave the field injured, the ball spinning off the turf and clipping one of her digits painfully on the way through her, away to the cover boundary. Joty is annoyed at the misfield but an injured player would be a bigger problem. To end the over, Litchfield skips down and drives a ball with lavish inside-out motion through wide long off. The ball was curving in at her, it took perfect timing to send it away on that trajectory, needing the bat to come inside the line of the ball as she moved to leg to make that happen.
7th over: Australia 46-0 (Healy 24, Litchfield 17)
Back down goes the hammer, though. Rabeya Khan, who has been influential for Bangladesh with her leg breaks, gets cracked through point twice, once by each batter, right-hander then left-hander backing away to make space and attack deliveries that aren’t all that short.
6th over: Australia 37-0 (Healy 19, Litchfield 13)
Nishita Akhter, the off-spinner, calms things down with an over conceding two. Would be interested to see a sound graph on Litchfield’s glove there, she reverse-swept and missed a ball that Joty dropped behind the stumps, but it was very close to the fabric of the top of the glove.
5th over: Australia 35-0 (Healy 18, Litchfield 12)
Thanks Megan. Bowling change in the commentary chair, Geoff Lemon here lobbing in, and just in time for a couple of mighty Healy strikes. Trisna is the bowler, who did so well with the bat at No11 for Bangladesh, but her bowling gets met here. Left-arm seam, a bit of swing into the pads of the right-hander from over the wicket, but the slower pace and the standard length mean that Healy can clear the front leg and whip across the line of the ball to drop-kick it over long on, then over midwicket. Trisna comes around the wicket to change things up, but that muddles her radar and she bowls five wides past the pads. Stays around the wicket, drops a little shorter, and Healy thumps the pull! Three boundaries off the bat, one from extras, and while Trisna ends the over well by squaring up the batter for a leading edge, the over costs 18.
4th over: Australia 17-0 (Healy 6, Litchfield 11)
Healy starts Nishi’s second over with a nice single down the ground and Litchfield keeps the strike rotating, taking her feet right to the ball. Healy gets into position early to create a low full toss and paddles it away for four – her first boundary for the match. She goes after it next ball, attempting a big slash, but Nishi beats the bat and Healy looks a little frustrated at her misjudgement of the pace.
3rd over: Australia 11-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 10)
Trisna continues and she lures Litchfield in with a lack of pace and gets her a little tangled. Litchfield adjusts her footwork next ball and that helps her get her eye in for a slog down to the boundary for the first four of the innings. She tries a similar shot again and this one looks to be saved on the boundary, but on replay it’s also ruled to be a four.
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 2)
Litchfield gets her first share of the strike, facing Nishita Akter Nishi who is opening from the other end. She’s bowling with a cap on, which is always one of my favourite things to see. Litchfield gets herself and Australia off the mark with a drive to long off for a single. Healy gets her first run with a very similar shot a couple of balls later. A good start from Nishi as well, just three runs from her over.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Healy 0, Litchfield 0)
Healy takes strike first to Trisna who takes the new ball in her first match of this World Cup and it’s a defensive shot to get the innings underway. There could be a temptation to try to knock these runs over quickly and for a net run rate boost, but making sure they get the win will be first and foremost in their minds. A maiden to start us off, well bowled by Trisna.
The teams are preparing to head back out into the middle – not long now until the second innings is underway.
Things have cooled off quite a bit at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium following the sunset and conditions will be much more pleasant out in the middle. Aaron Finch in commentary tells us that the dew factor comes into play at about 7:30pm, which is a little under an hour away. This will make things trickier for the bowlers, just to throw another challenge Bangladesh’s way!
Some nice viewing figures from the ICC for this tournament so far, hopefully this continues to rise throughout the World Cup.
#CWC25 fever is on the rise 🔥
— ICC (@ICC) October 16, 2025
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is off to a flying start, smashing early viewership records 🤩
Details ➡️ https://t.co/cfw1pOM7rY pic.twitter.com/JDznOX8e3J
This was a great catch by Mooney to dismiss Fahima – worth a watch if you missed it live.
Beth Mooney takes a sharp catch above her head to keep Australia on top 👏
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 16, 2025
Watch #AUSvBAN LIVE in your region, #CWC25 broadcast details here ➡️ https://t.co/MNSEqhJP29 pic.twitter.com/RWh0RRiuLR
Bangladesh sets Australia 199 runs for victory
Well, what a fascinating innings that was. Bangladesh clearly had a plan to not go too hard and throw their wickets away, playing patiently throughout the power play to lose just one wicket. However, the wickets fell more regularly after that and Bangladesh were unable to launch from the platform they had created. Australia created plenty of dot ball pressure to keep the wickets coming and found plenty of turn in the pitch through their two leg spinners – King (2-18) and Wareham (2-22).
In good news for Bangladesh, this is the first time this tournament that Australia have not bowled an opposition out, so their determination to hold on for that last wicket worked for them. It is also Bangladesh’s highest ever ODI score against Australia, which is a huge milestone.
Mostary was very impressive with her 66* from 80 balls, keeping her cool and her wicket when everyone around her was losing theirs. The way she was able to unleash in the final over, following a long period of patient play, guided her team to a total that could be defendable if they bowl well.
Australia are certainly on top at this stage of the game, but if Bangladesh execute their bowling plans to perfection, they’re not out of the running just yet. It’s sure to be an exciting second innings, so stay with us!
50th over: Bangladesh 198-9 (Mostary 66, Trisna 1)
Gardner bowls the last over for Australia and Mostary starts it by heaving one over the infield, where it bounces in and out of the hands of a diving Sutherland. The next ball she goes for it again, this time Wareham goes for the catch, but it evades her to reach the boundary. Mostary continues to play her shots and runs a risky two. There’s an appeal for a run out, but the third umpire judges that she has just made her ground. They run another tight two and finish with a single for a great final over, with 11 runs from it.
49th over: Bangladesh 187-9 (Mostary 55, Trisna 1)
Not the best start to Wareham’s final over, with five wides down the leg side. Wareham isn’t happy, she thinks it’s clipped Trisna on the way through. Trisna then darts through for a single and Mostary gets deep in her crease next ball to create some space and send it over deep mid wicket for four. A good over for Bangladesh.
48th over: Bangladesh 176-9 (Mostary 50, Trisna 0)
Gardner is back to try to take this final wicket. She starts around the wicket, but her first two balls are called wide, just drifting down leg side. She adjusts her line and forces Mostary to defend. Mostary slashes at one that’s a little wider down the off side and sends it to the boundary past third to bring up her half-century. There’s a big mix up between the batters and they’re both stranded, but a panicked throw from Brown saves them from the final wicket falling.
47th over: Bangladesh 170-9 (Mostary 46, Trisna 0)
Wareham continues and she creates another chance early, but Mostary’s edge flies past Mooney at first slip and races away to the boundary. That makes Mostary Bangladesh’s highest scorer for the day. There’s another little mix up with the running, with Trisna not backing up, but they dash through and get the single.
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46th over: Bangladesh 165-9 (Mostary 41, Trisna 0)
Sutherland comes on for her last over of today. Again she bowls a wider line to get the batter reaching, but Mostary does it well with a cut shot for a nice single. Nishi manages to get off the mark with a pull shot on the short ball. Litchfield makes a diving save to attempt a run out, but the batters just make their ground. Next ball Sutherland picks up Nishi’s wicket – another great spell from her.
WICKET! Nishi lbw Sutherland 1 (Bangladesh 165-9)
Sutherland has been asking questions of the batters all day and this time she gets Nishi stuck in her crease and gets her on the pads. The umpire gives it not out, but the Australians don’t miss the chance to review this time and ball tracking shows that she has to go.
45th over: Bangladesh 162-8 (Mostary 39, Nishi 0)
Rabeya retains the strike to start Wareham’s fifth over. There’s immediately a lot of turn, which gets Rabeya all turned around. She goes after the next ball, but only succeeds in lobbing it up to Gardner. Nishi comes to the crease and plays cautiously. It’s a wicket maiden for Wareham.
WICKET! Rabeya c Gardner b Wareham 6 (Bangladesh 162-8)
Rabeya gets down sweeping to try to get Wareham away, but she mistimes it and Gardner comes in a few steps from the boundary to take a regulation catch.
44th over: Bangladesh 162-7 (Mostary 39, Rabeya 6)
Sutherland starts her ninth over with a wider delivery at a very full length, which gets Rabeya reaching, but it beats the bat and doesn’t get the edge Sutherland was hoping for. The next ball drifts down leg side and is given a wide, much to Healy’s consternation. Sutherland fights back with three more dots, just building the pressure on Rabeya early in her innings. But late in the over she is able to find the shot she wants, a beautiful cover drive that sails down to the boundary for four.
43rd over: Bangladesh 156-7 (Mostary 39, Rabeya 1)
Wareham continues with a very attacking field – Australia is keen to take these last three wickets and put an end to this innings. Rabeya gets off the mark with a slightly mistimed sweep, but it’s played into the ground to keep her safe. Another good over from Wareham, just two runs from it.
42nd over: Bangladesh 154-7 (Mostary 38, Rabeya 0)
Sutherland is back for her third spell, after Mostary found scoring from Brown a little too easy for Australia’s liking last over. Sutherland has been exceptional at the death so far this tournament. Bangladesh aren’t going after Sutherland like they did with Brown, but Fahima eventually gets frustrated into trying to push one over the top.
WICKET! Fahima c Mooney b Sutherland 4 (Bangladesh 153-7)
Sutherland’s death bowling takes another victim, frustrating Fahima into trying to go over the top and Mooney jumps up to take an impressive one-handed catch at backward point.
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41st over: Bangladesh 151-6 (Mostary 37, Fahima 3)
It turns out that muted appeal from Healy last over had some merit to it, as we see there was a tickle of glove on it and they should have gone for the DRS. But nothing to be done about that now! Wareham resumes her spell and Fahima is playing some lovely shots, but the first four are dots. She eventually manages a little edge to get her a single and get off strike.
40th over: Bangladesh 150-6 (Mostary 37, Fahima 2)
Brown resumes and Mostary starts with a very nice straight drive down the ground for four – just as the commentators were talking about how they have hardly scored any runs down the ground. The next ball is banged in short, but Mostary gets on top of it with a big pull shot for a second consecutive boundary. Brown bowls another short ball next and there’s a muted appeal from Healy as the ball passes close to the bat, but it’s called a wide. Next delivery, Mostary gives us a lovely cover drive for yet another boundary! They bring up the 150 with a good over.
39th over: Bangladesh 135-6 (Mostary 24, Fahima 2)
Wareham continues after a successful first over. The first ball is a full toss, but it drops uncomfortably and Fahima can’t take advantage of it. Wareham is really floating the ball up above the eyeline consistently, which the batters are finding uncomfortable. Another good over from the leg spinner.
38th over: Bangladesh 133-6 (Mostary 23, Fahima 1)
Mostary has a job to do now as the set batter, who has lasted through a few wickets falling around her now. She continues to play patiently and finds a single to get Fahima on strike. The short ball gives Fahima her first scoring opportunity and she pulls it a little wildly, but it gets the job done in getting her off the mark.
37th over: Bangladesh 131-6 (Mostary 22, Fahima 0)
Now that King has bowled out her overs, Healy has brought on another leg spinner in Wareham in her place. Immediately she’s getting some turn out of the pitch just as King did. Ritu goes after her and mistimes it – there’s a chance, but a diving Brown can’t quite catch it. Then there’s an appeal for LBW but the umpire isn’t interested and Wareham indicates it’s going down leg. But she finally gets the wicket to finish the over and Ritu has to go.
WICKET! Ritu c McGrath b Wareham 2 (Bangladesh 131-6)
Wareham spins a web this over that eventually gets Ritu tangled. She gets one on the toe of her bat and lofts it gently to McGrath for a simple catch.
36th over: Bangladesh 129-5 (Mostary 22, Ritu 1)
Brown resumes and Mostary takes an early single to give Ritu her first look at pace for today. She gets off the mark with a single that has a little hesitancy about it – she nearly gets stuck out of her crease, but she dashes through for the run. A better over from Brown, she’s hitting her lengths with more regularity.
35th over: Bangladesh 127-5 (Mostary 21, Ritu 0)
King’s final over of the day – she has bowled all 10 of her overs consecutively. She nearly picks up a wicket on the second ball, but it doesn’t quite carry to Litchfield. She then does get one to carry to Mooney and Shorna has to go. A fantastic spell from King, which finishes with a wicket maiden.
WICKET! Shorna c Mooney b King 7 (Bangladesh 127-5)
King lures Shorna in, getting her playing at a slightly wider delivery, which she can only edge to Mooney at first slip.
34th over: Bangladesh 127-4 (Mostary 21, Shorna 7)
Brown is back into the attack for her second spell. Mostary uses the pace of the ball immediately to guide the first ball down to fine leg. Finally we see some of Shorna’s aggression with a pull shot over midwicket for her first boundary. A good over from Bangladesh, they’re enjoying Brown’s pace.
33rd over: Bangladesh 119-4 (Mostary 19, Shorna 1)
We return from drinks for King’s penultimate over. I did think we would see an elevation in run rate from Bangladesh, but they continue to be cautious against King. Perhaps they’re trying to wait her out knowing she doesn’t have much more bowling left to do tonight. They get just one run from the over.
32nd over: Bangladesh 118-4 (Mostary 18, Shorna 1)
Bangladesh seem to realise they need to increase their run rate and Mostary starts with a couple of big swings, but Sutherland’s variations in pace are keeping her guessing and she can’t connect. But when Sutherland bowls the short ball, she’s ready for it. A mistimed pull shot still manages to get to the boundary. Then Sutherland bowls a wider delivery and Mostary reaches for it and cuts it for another four. A much better over from Bangladesh. Drinks are on the field now.
31st over: Bangladesh 109-4 (Mostary 9, Shorna 1)
Another near mix up to start the over, with Shorna darting down the pitch, but Sharmin sends her back. Next ball, King has a big appeal for LBW, but the umpire shakes her head. On replay we see that there was an outside edge on it and has hit Healy’s gloves and then fallen short of Mooney at first slip. Another maiden for King.
30th over: Bangladesh 109-4 (Mostary 9, Shorna 1)
Sutherland starts her sixth over with a dot to Shorna, who is yet to get off the mark. Sutherland bowls another wide – very odd for her to miss her line so often in a game. Everyone is waiting for Shorna to tee off, after she hit the second fastest fifty of the tournament against South Africa, but when she eventually gets off the mark, it’s just with a single.
29th over: Bangladesh 107-4 (Mostary 9, Shorna 0)
Mostary pushes the ball away and immediately takes off for a single, but Shorna isn’t keen and sends her straight back – a sensible decision I’d say. King is finding some good turn in this pitch and Mostary can’t do much but defend at the moment, just waiting for an opportunity if King misses her length. But she doesn’t give her any opportunities this over, it’s a maiden.
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28th over: Bangladesh 107-4 (Mostary 9, Shorna 0)
Sutherland starts her over with an uncharacteristic wide, just losing her line and floating it down leg side. Mostary is on strike, but I’m very keen to see what Shorna can do, as she has been electric this tournament so far. Sutherland gives away another wide – this time going outside the wide line on the off side. Mostary finds a single with a back foot shot and we get Shorna on strike. We nearly don’t get to see very much of Shorna at all, as Sutherland gets her top edging and Healy makes a desperate dive for the catch, but she can’t quite hold on to it. A lot going on at the moment, don’t go anywhere!
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27th over: Bangladesh 104-4 (Mostary 8, Shorna 0)
King bowls her sixth consecutive over and takes her time getting her field set to Mostary, who tries to play a forward defence to start the over, but King beats the bat. King is floating some nice deliveries up above the batters’ eyeline and makes it difficult for them to get on top of the bowling. They score a run courtesy of a Litchfield misfield and then King finishes off the over with a masterful piece of bowling to get Nigar stumped.
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WICKET! Nigar st Healy b King 12 (Bangladesh 104-4)
King weaves a web with plenty of variation throughout the over and eventually lures Nigar out of her crease, where Healy is waiting to pounce on the ball and whip the bails off.
26th over: Bangladesh 103-3 (Mostary 7, Nigar 12)
Sutherland is back into the attack, bringing back some pace and looking to break this partnership before it gets too well established. Nigar shows some intent from the first ball, but doesn’t score from it. Sutherland keeps on hitting that good line and length and it’s not until the fourth ball of the over that Nigar can find a single to rotate the strike. Mostary goes after the short ball – she mistimes it, but it lands safely and she gets herself off strike.
25th over: Bangladesh 101-3 (Mostary 6, Nigar 11)
Nigar goes for the sweep to start the over – it’s played uppishly, but falls safely. Then Mostary cuts one over to the other side, which sparks cries of “catch it” but it finds the gap and trickles down to deep cover for a single. Bangladesh bring up the 100 runs, a solid start from them.
24th over: Bangladesh 98-3 (Mostary 5, Nigar 9)
The spin onslaught continues with another over from Gardner. There’s a bit of innovation from Nigar, with a reverse sweep coming into her game, but she can’t score from it. Eventually she finds some runs with a good drive against a wider ball.
23rd over: Bangladesh 95-3 (Mostary 5, Nigar 6)
Bangladesh continue to find runs through the slips. It’s not the safest way to score, but they’re finding a way through at the moment. This time it’s just byes, but they all count towards the total. A productive over from Bangladesh from King’s bowling, with nine runs coming from it.
22nd over: Bangladesh 86-3 (Mostary 1, Nigar 4)
Nigar on strike to Gardner to start this over. These batters are showing so much patience. Jhelik was prepared to throw caution to the wind at times – and did it one too many times just as she was building some momentum. And just as I’m praising their patience, Sharmin decides to go after one and loses her wicket. Mostary comes to the crease and there’s almost a run out, but Schutt can’t quite get the direct hit and the batters make their ground.
WICKET! Sharmin c Sutherland b Gardner 19 (Bangladesh 84-3)
Again Bangladesh are caught out by the tall fielders sitting on the circle. Sharmin tries to push one up and over mid on, but Sutherland is there to take an easy catch.
21st over: Bangladesh 82-2 (Sharmin 19, Nigar 3)
King continues and bowls a stunning delivery on the second ball of the over, that bounces on the leg side and turns back to just miss off stump. Unfortunately the next ball doesn’t turn and it catches Healy off guard, getting past her and down to the boundary for four wides.
20th over: Bangladesh 76-2 (Sharmin 19, Nigar 2)
Gardner continues for her fifth over today, after taking that important wicket of Jhelik in her last over. After a couple of loose overs to start her spell, she has tightened her line up now and they are finding it more difficult to score from her. Nigar brings out the sweep shot, which she plays well down towards the boundary, but it’s cut off for just a single.
19th over: Bangladesh 74-2 (Sharmin 18, Nigar 1)
King continues and Nigar looks to get off strike, but Sharmin wisely sends her back. Nigar plays the next few balls defensively. King is putting the ball on a good length and it’s a maiden from her.
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18th over: Bangladesh 74-2 (Sharmin 18, Nigar 1)
We’ve got spin from both ends now, with Gardner coming back from the other end, replacing Sutherland. Jhelik sees an opportunity on the second ball and moves her feet down the pitch and drives it straight down the ground past long off for four. She pushes her luck trying to slog sweep the next ball over McGrath at midwicket and loses her wicket, bringing the captain to the crease.
WICKET! Jhelik c McGrath b Gardner 44 (Bangladesh 73-2)
A good innings from Jhelik, but she goes after one too many and can’t get the ball up and over the tall frame of McGrath.
17th over: Bangladesh 69-1 (Sharmin 18, Jhelik 40)
Alana King comes on for her first over. Gardner hasn’t been able to extract much turn at all from this pitch, but Kings turns the ball a lot more than her, so let’s see what she can conjure up here. Sharmin plays a lovely cut shot that pierces a gap in the field, but Schutt pounces on it before it can reach the boundary.
16th over: Bangladesh 67-1 (Sharmin 16, Jhelik 40)
We return from drinks with Sutherland resuming her spell. Her bowling is so consistent and just hits an uncomfortable line and length so often. Sharmin gets a pull shot away for a single to turn the strike over. Jhelik has looked quite carefree for a lot of her innings and willing to go after the bowlers, but against Sutherland she takes her time. And then just as I think she’s going to be cautious all the way through her over, she gets on the front foot and drives one away beautifully for her. The next ball isn’t quite so beautiful, she slashes at a good length ball and gets a top edge that flies over Healy’s head – but the result is the same, another four runs.
15th over: Bangladesh 58-1 (Sharmin 15, Jhelik 32)
Jhelik starts Gardner’s third over with a couple of nice drives, but can’t score from them. On the third ball she goes for the big swing with a slog sweep that’s slightly mistimed, but it falls safely just past the infielders. A good contest between bat and ball in this over. Drinks are on the field.
14th over: Bangladesh 56-1 (Sharmin 14, Jhelik 31)
Sutherland continues her spell where she left off, with a dot ball. She is hitting a great line and length and making it very difficult for them to score off her. She varies it up with a short ball, but Sharmin is ready for it, getting on top of the bounce and pulling it away for four. Those are the only runs from the over, but any runs scored from a Sutherland over are valuable.
13th over: Bangladesh 52-1 (Sharmin 10, Jhelik 31)
Gardner comes back for her second over and the batters immediately look more comfortable, with Sharmin able to work the first ball away for a single. Gardner gets Jhelik edging through the slips again, it falls just wide of Mooney, but it’s good signs from her. Sharmin plays a lovely steer past third for her second boundary, showing great awareness of the field to find those runs.
12th over: Bangladesh 45-1 (Sharmin 4, Jhelik 30)
Annabel Sutherland comes into the attack for her first over. She was Australia’s best bowler by far against India the other day, so they will be hoping she brings that form into this match. She has been bamboozling batters with her variations so far this tournament and she keeps Jhelik guessing with a couple of full and straight deliveries, before offering up a short ball. It’s a maiden for her – a good start to her day.
11th over: Bangladesh 45-1 (Sharmin 4, Jhelik 30)
We get our first look at spin for the match, with Gardner coming into the bowling attack. Jhelik starts the over with a boundary – Gardner doesn’t quite hit her line, just drifting the ball on to the legside and Jhelik flicks it away past fine leg and over the boundary. There’s almost a mix up when Jhelik takes off for a run in the middle of the over, but she backtracks quickly when Sharmin sends her back. It’s a good over for Bangladesh, let’s see if they can keep building from here.
10th over: Bangladesh 37-1 (Sharmin 4, Jhelik 23)
The first ball of the over sees an edge from Jhelik, which flies to Healy for a simple catch, but she puts it down. Brown looks to build the pressure on Jhelik and dots her up for the next few balls, but eventually she finds a gap through point for a single and Sharmin is on strike for the first time. She plays her first ball defensively, looking quite cramped by by Brown’s pace, but next ball she drives it beautifully down the ground for four to get off the mark – a really lovely shot.
9th over: Bangladesh 32-1 (Sharmin 0, Jhelik 22)
Schutt to Farzana again and more defensive play to start the over. I think Schutt much prefers bowling to Jhelik who is more likely to attack the bowling and offer up some chances. It seems difficult to even create dot ball pressure on Farzana, as she doesn’t seem to feel any. She’s happy to just play conservatively and wait for opportunities at the moment. Of course, just when I say all that, Farzana edges one to Mooney and she’s gone on the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Farzana c Mooney b Schutt 8 (Bangladesh 32-1)
It seemed like Jhelik was the player most likely to lose her wicket, but finally Schutt breaks through Farzana’s defence to get her edging to Mooney at first slip.
8th over: Bangladesh 32-0 (Farzana 8, Jhelik 22)
A better start to this over from Brown, Farzana continues to be watchful and play defensively. Brown bowls a short ball midway through the over, that’s ruled a wide by the umpire, but she won’t mind that too much, as Farzana looks very uncomfortable as she ducks under it. It’s probably worth giving away the wide to unsettle her.
7th over: Bangladesh 30-0 (Farzana 7, Jhelik 22)
Schutt resumes and Farzana again starts the over by rotating the strike and getting Jhelik back into the action. Schutt gets the toe of her bat, it flies to Litchfield at first slip, but bounces off her hand to give Jhelik another life. There’s plenty of frustration in the Australian team at not being able to put these chances to bed.
6th over: Bangladesh 29-0 (Farzana 6, Jhelik 22)
Farzana immediately gets off strike to start the over and then Brown again catches the edge of Jhelik’s bat, but again it flies in between first and second slip and down to the boundary for four. Australia tightens up its slips cordon, bringing Litchfield in to bolster it. It still looks quite spread out to my (very) amateur eyes, but let’s see if it brings them success. Jhelik decides not to edge it through the slips for her next boundary, instead working it on the front foot through deep midwicket.
Updated
5th over: Bangladesh 18-0 (Farzana 5, Jhelik 12)
Farzana gets her first look at the strike in a little while, continuing to offer up that strong front foot defence to Schutt’s bowling. She then plays a nice little flick off her pads down to fine leg that looks like it might go for four, but it’s again saved on the boundary, this time by Brown. It’s still quite cautious batting from Bangladesh here, they are keen to stay at the crease and aren’t being rattled by the dot balls accumulating.
Updated
4th over: Bangladesh 17-0 (Farzana 4, Jhelik 12)
Another over for Brown, she certainly created some chances in her first over. She starts with a dot, but on the next ball, Jhelik goes after it slashing and it flies straight up in the air. Fortunately for Jhelik, it falls safely and she continues on. She plays a lovely cover drive for two midway through the over, which Gardner saves with some good fielding at the deep cover boundary.
Updated
3rd over: Bangladesh 14-0 (Farzana 4, Jhelik 10)
Schutt continues her spell, bowling to Jhelik for the first time. Healy comes up to the stumps to keep this over, trying to unsettle Jhelik and keep her cramped up in her crease. It’s a good start to the over from Schutt, the swing is getting Jhelik playing and there are a few that just miss the edge of her bat. Eventually Schutt catches the edge of the bat, but it trickles in between first and second slip to the boundary for four.
Updated
2nd over: Bangladesh 9-0 (Farzana 4, Jhelik 5)
Brown opens from the other end and she’ll be keen to make up for that misfield with a strong over here. The first ball is quite wide, flirting with the wide line, but not quite pushing wide enough that she has to bowl it again. She adjusts her line and gets Jhelik playing at it – twice in a row it just misses her outside edge. Then she gets that edge she was chasing, but it falls just short of Mooney at first slip and jags up off the ground and bounces over Mooney’s head to run away for four. There’s an appeal for LBW late in the over, but the umpire isn’t interested and Brown isn’t really too keen either, so they decide not to review.
Updated
1st over: Bangladesh 4-0 (Farzana 4, Jhelik 0)
Megan Schutt takes the new ball for Australia, as she so often does. Farzana gets off to a great start, with Farzana guiding the ball around the corner and a misfield from Darcie Brown at deep fine leg offers up the first boundary of the match. Schutt fights back with five consecutive dot balls, with Farzana playing a strong front foot defence, staying cautious and watchful in this first over.
Updated
The teams are on the field now for the anthem after that always impressive flag unfurling. Not long now until the first ball is bowled!
Don’t forget, you can send me an email with your thoughts about the game, predictions for the tournament or something completely random – I’m open to hearing whatever you want to chat about! The email link is at the top of the page.
News from the ground is that the weather is looking perfect. It’s hot out there – around 32 degrees at the moment. It looks unlikely that the rain that crushed Pakistan’s hopes in Colombo yesterday will travel up north to Visakhapatnam to put a dampener on this game.
Bangladesh XI
1. Rubya Haider Jhelik
2. Farzana Hoque
3. Sharmin Akhter
4. Nigar Sultana Joty (c) (wk)
5. Sobhana Mostary
6. Shorna Akter
7. Fahima Khatun
8. Rabeya Khan
9. Ritu Moni
10. Nishita Akter Nishi
11. Fariha Islam Trisna
Updated
Australia XI
1. Alyssa Healy (c) (wk)
2. Phoebe Litchfield
3. Ellyse Perry
4. Beth Mooney
5. Annabel Sutherland
6. Ash Gardner
7. Tahlia McGrath
8. Georgia Wareham
9. Alana King
10. Megan Schutt
11. Darcie Brown
Updated
Bangladesh wins the toss and elects to bat
Nigar Sultana wins the toss for Bangladesh and decides that pitch looks perfect for batting. She’s confident that her team can put on a good total and defend it.
And Bangladesh’s close call against England is worth reviewing before this match begins as well.
If you want a reminder about Australia’s record run chase to secure the win over India, we’ve got that match report for you as well.
While we’re waiting for the toss, why not catch up on last night’s excitement? Unfortunately literal rain rained on the parade of Pakistan, who came within a whisper of their first ever ODI victory over England. If you missed the action, we’ve got you covered with this match report from Raf Nicholson.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to match 17 of the Women’s Cricket World Cup! Today we’ve got the undefeated Australia taking on Bangladesh, who are hunting for their second win of the tournament.
It has been a fascinating World Cup so far – while Australia indeed are yet to lose a match, they have looked shaky at times. Their batting against Pakistan was far from its best, while against India they struggled to find the answers during their bowling innings. Both times they were able to get over the line, but opposition teams will be watching closely to note these vulnerabilities and make plans to exploit them.
Bangladesh’s sole win of the tournament so far came against Pakistan – a decisive, seven-wicket win with strong contributions across the bowling attack. However, they also put on very good showings against South Africa, which came down to the final over, and England, who looked in trouble at 5/78 chasing Bangladesh’s 178. While neither of those games finished with a win, they will have offered the team plenty of confidence that they have the ability to match it with some of the world’s best teams.
If Bangladesh can bring that form into this match, we might be in for another exciting finish. While Australia are very much the favourites here, let’s not write off the underdogs. There’s plenty to discuss, so let’s get into it!
