Australia 
reaffirmed their status as defending champions with a commanding six-wicket victory over England in Match 23 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 245, the Australians were rocked early but staged a sensational recovery,
powered by an unbeaten 180-run partnership between Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner,
to seal a morale-boosting win and maintain their perfect record.
The match, billed as a potential preview of the semifinals, saw England post a competitive 244/9 after being inserted by stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath.
Tammy Beaumont’s gritty 78 laid the foundation, but it was Australia’s spin trio
– Jess King, Sophie Molineux, and Gardner herself – who orchestrated a middle-order collapse,
restricting the Lionesses to a total that ultimately proved insufficient on a batter-friendly pitch.
England’s Innings: Promise Fulfilled, Then Fractured
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, McGrath’s decision paid immediate dividends as Australia’s seamers probed England’s top order under the Indore sun.
However, openers Amy Jones and Beaumont weathered the new ball, forging a brisk 55-run stand in just 9 overs.
Amy jones fell for 18, bowled by Sutherland, but Beaumont anchored the innings with elegant strokeplay,
reaching her half-century off 58 balls.
England’s middle order, however, faltered against Australia’s spin chokehold.
Molineux struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Heather Knight for 20 and Alice Capsey for 38
while Gardner claimed the vital wicket of Sophia Dunkley for 22.
Sophia Dunkley (22) and Amy Jones (18) offered fleeting resistance, but the acceleration never materialized.
Alice Capsey provided a late flourish with 38 off 32 balls alongside Charlie Dean 26 of 27 Balls, but England limped to 244/9,
with Sutherland (3/60) and Molineux (2/52) joining the spin attack in mopping up the tail.
Beaumont’s knock, laced with ten boundaries, was the standout, but England’s inability to build partnerships
– losing six wickets for 112 runs after the powerplay – left them short of the 270-plus total experts predicted on this flat deck.
Australia’s Chase: From Peril to Perfection
What followed was a masterclass in resilience and ruthlessness. England struck early blows,
with Lauren Bell removing opener Phoebe Litchfield (out for 1) and Smith to Georgia Voll for (6),
while ecclestone tempted Beth Mooney into a rash shot for 20.
At 24/3 in the 10th over, Australia teetered on the brink, evoking memories of their nail-biting chases earlier in the tournament.
Enter Sutherland and Gardner, who turned the tide with a partnership for the ages. Sutherland, promoted to No. 5,
played the enforcer’s role, mixing solid defense with audacious sweeps – including a towering six off Sarah Smith – to race to her maiden World Cup fifty.
Gardner, the all-round dynamo, unleashed her full repertoire, smashing boundaries at will and reaching her ton off just 69 balls, the fastest in Women’s World Cup history.
The duo’s synergy was poetry: Sutherland’s measured aggression complemented Gardner’s flair,
as they plundered 130 runs in the last 15 overs.
Sutherland fell agonizingly short of her century on 98, but Gardner’s unbeaten 104 (off 73 balls, with 16 fours) carried Australia home in 40.3 overs.
The Holkar Stadium erupted as Gardner edged Bell for four to seal the win, her second hundred of the tournament both on this ground.
Key Performances and Records Shattered in Women’s World Cup
- Ashleigh Gardner (Player of the Match): 104* (73 balls) + 2/39. Her explosive knock not only broke the World Cup century speed record but also underlined her evolution from promising all-rounder to game-changer.
- Annabel Sutherland: 98* (112 balls). A near-perfect innings that showcased her poise under pressure.
- Tammy Beaumont: 78 (105 balls). England’s lone warrior, but her efforts couldn’t mask the batting frailties.
This victory extends Australia’s unbeaten streak to five matches, propelling them back to the top of the points table with maximum points.
England, now 4-1, slip to second but remain semifinal-bound.
What It Means: Path to Glory in Women’s World Cup
For Australia, this was more than points – it was a statement.
With Alyssa Healy sidelined, McGrath’s leadership shone, and the depth of the squad was evident.
Their next challenge: a blockbuster against South Africa on October 25, where a win could lock in a top-two finish.
England, stung by the loss, will rue their missed opportunities.
Captain Heather Knight admitted post-match: “We bowled well up top, but that partnership was world-class.
We’ve got to regroup for New Zealand.” The defeat revives ghosts of the 2022 final,
where Australia triumphed by nine runs, but with Sophie Ecclestone (1/62) and Lauren Bell (1/48) showing promise, the Lionesses are far from out.
As the World Cup hurtles toward the knockouts, today’s encounter reminded us why women’s cricket is thriving: raw talent, unyielding spirit, and moments of sheer brilliance. Australia march on, unbeaten and unbowed.
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