Australia unbeaten after strong win over Pakistan

Alyssa Healy led the way with the bat after the spinners dominated with the ball as Australia cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan at Bay Oval.

Healy's 79-ball 72 helped Australia chase down Pakistan's 6-190 with 92 balls to spare, as the world's top-ranked ODI side claimed their second World Cup win from as many matches.

But their victory could have been simpler if not for the dogged efforts of Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof (78no from 122) and Aliya Riaz (53 from 109), who dug in with a 99-run stand after their side was in early trouble at 4-44.

Healy and opening partner Rachael Haynes rode their luck during an aggressive start to their chase; the former dropped on eight and the latter on 25 and 26 as Australia reached 0-59 at the end of the powerplay.

Haynes came unstuck the following over on 34, holing out to left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu, but skipper Meg Lanning continued the momentum with a 37-ball 35 before chopping on a sharp-turning off-break from Omaima Sohail.

Healy's half-century came from 55 balls and while she could not see it through to the finish – holing out to Sohail with Australia 38 runs short of victory – Ellyse Perry (26no) and Beth Mooney (23no) steered Australia home in 34.4 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan had quickly found themselves in trouble after being sent into bat by Lanning, before a 99-run partnership – the country's best at any women's World Cup – between Maroof and Riaz stemmed the fall of wickets.

Image Id: 9531201E2F9E41999A1E420941EC617D Image Caption: Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof signals to her baby in the dressing room // Getty

With teenage quick Darcie Brown sitting out the match, new-ball pair Meg Schutt and Ellyse Perry struck two early blows with Pakistan openers Nahida Khan (9) and Sidhra Amin (2) both caught at slip.

When Pakistan crawled to 2-37 after 10 overs, Lanning introduced leg-spin at both ends and Alana King quickly broke through with a wrong'un that got through Omaima's defence and rattled her stumps.

Amanda-Jade Wellington took just five balls to strike in her first international match since March 2018, as the dangerous Nida Dar (5) was caught at slip.

At 4-44 Maroof and Riaz set about the recovery work, and while Australia's bowlers kept the squeeze on, they were frustrated for more than 30 overs as both Pakistan batters notched half-centuries.

Maroof, who made her international return for this tournament after giving birth to her first child, celebrated her fifty by pointing her bat towards seven-month-old Fatima in the pavilion.

Nicola Carey finally trapped Riaz lbw on 53 in the 45th over, but Maroof, aided by Fatima Sana Khan (14) and Diana Baig (7no), added 48 runs from the last six overs to take Pakistan to 6-190.

Australia's spinners proved the most difficult for Pakistan to put away; King finished with 2-24 from her nine overs, while Wellington (1-25 off eight) and Jonassen (0-33 off 10) were economical.

Australia now travel to Wellington where they will prepare for Sunday's upcoming showdown with hosts New Zealand at The Basin, while Pakistan will play South Africa at Bay Oval on Friday.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Jessica Jonassen, Alana King, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Megan Schutt

Pakistan XI: Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof (c), Nahida Khan, Omaima Sohail, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Anam Amin

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Australia def England by 12 runs

LIVE: v Pakistan, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12pm AEDT

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports