Australia hold nerve to take first ODI in KL

Australia have started their tour of Malaysia on a winning note, pulling off a five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the opening one-day international in Kuala Lumpur.

Having bowled Pakistan out for 95 during a rain-interrupted first innings, Australia suffered a wobble in their pursuit of a revised target of 92 when they lost 3 for 12, before Rachael Haynes and Beth Mooney steadied the ship as Australia reached their target with 112 balls to spare.

After the hosts elected to bat first at Kinrara Academy Oval, Nahida Khan made a positive start when she struck Ellyse Perry’s delivery of the match for four.

 

But Pakistan had few reasons to celebrate in the overs that followed. An early double strike from Megan Schutt had the hosts in trouble at 2-24 as first Ayesha Zafar (9) and then first drop Muneeba Ali (2) departed.

With the runs coming at fewer than three an over the pressure built on Pakistan’s batters and it was debutante leg-spinner Georgia Wareham who reaped the rewards, removing Pakistan captain Javeria Khan for 21 (27).

Wareham picked up a second to end Nahida’s knock on 17 (27), leaving the hosts wobbling at 4-59 in the 17th over, and it went from bad to worse when Nicola Carey struck twice in two overs – first, she had Nida Dar chipping on a skiddy delivery, out for six, before she picked up her second when Sidra Ameen was outsmarted by a ball that rose sharply, bunting an easy catch to Schutt at cover.

Image Id: 0E1D7608A2B54D5C860C74A062D380FF Image Caption: Megan Schutt captured 3-17 // PCB

Heavy rain forced the players from the field after 26 overs, but while the weather in Kuala Lumpur improved following a two-and-a-half hour delay, the game situation became no brighter for Pakistan.

With the match shortened to 41 overs per side, debutante Sophie Molineux claimed her first international wicket in the second over following the resumption.

Veteran Sana Mir defiantly tried to grind out extra runs for her team but found no partners, Pakistan bowled out for 95 in the 37th over.

Schutt finished with 3-17 from her 7.2 overs, while Carey (3-19) and Wareham (2-22) were the other multiple wicket-takers.

Image Id: 1A2A7650F7F742AD88CBC2E1438373E1 Image Caption: Nicola Carey struck three big blows // PCB

Australia openers Alyssa Healy and Nicole Bolton wasted little time before taking on the Pakistan attack in reply as they sped to 0-40 in the seventh over, but the positive start came unstuck when Healy was bowled by left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu.

As Pakistan’s spin brigade began to cause problems, Meg Lanning (4 off 6) was stumped off the bowling of off-spinner Mir, before Perry – finally getting her chance in the middle after not being required to bat during the New Zealand T20Is – managed just one run from five deliveries before being trapped in front by Mir.

Bolton’s positive start then ended when a mis-timed sweep ballooned to Anam Amin at mid-wicket handing Mir her third, but any hopes of an unlikely Pakistan victory were dashed as Haynes – who fell for 24 with one run required for victory – and Mooney (16no) saw Australia home in the 22nd over.

The win handed Australia two more ICC Women’s Championships points, and they’ll look to seal a series win in the second game on Saturday.

 

Earlier, left-arm spinner Molineux was presented with ODI cap No.138 by vice-captain Rachael Haynes, while her state and WBBL teammate – and housemate – Wareham was handed cap No.139 by assistant coach Shelley Nitschke ahead of the toss.

CommBank Tour of Malaysia

Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Australia T20 & World T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen (subject to fitness), Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Pakistan ODI/T20 squad: Javeria Khan (c), Bibi Nahida, Ayesha Zafar, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Nida Rashid, Sidra Nawaz, Sana Mir, Nashra Sundhu, Anum Amin, Natalia Parvaiz, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Aiman Anwar

October 18: Australia won the first ODI by five wickets

October 20: Second ODI v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

October 22: Third ODI v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

October 25: First T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

October 27: Second T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

October 29: Third T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

November 9: Australia v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana

November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium

November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground