Women's T20 World Cup: Ashleigh Gardner runs the show for Australia in one-sided win over Pakistan

Ashleigh Gardner ran the show for Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday (Oct 11) as they registered their third consecutive win of the tournament. Playing against Pakistan, Gardner scalped four wickets,leading the former champions to the brink of semifinal qualification. The nine-wicket defeat also saw Pakistan concede a second consecutive defeat having lost to India on Sunday.

Australia on the brink of semis

Chasing 83 runs to win the match, Australia were at the top of their game as they got the better of the opposition in 11 overs. Skipper Alyssa Healy top scored 37 before she decided to retire hurt while Ellyse Perry (22) and Gardner (7) guided the side to victory with 54 balls to spare. The win sees the Aussies reach six points with one foot in the semis of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Batting first Pakistan batters were all over the place with only four batters getting into double figures. Aliya Riaz was the top-scoring with 26. With Gardner running riot with the ball, Pakistan were bowled out for 82 as Annabel Sutherland (15/2) and Georgia Wareham (16/2) were also amongst the wickets.

Pakistan lost regular wickets after left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux dismissed Ali, for seven, and pace bowler Megan Schutt had Sadaf Shamas caught behind for three.

Middle-order batter Aliya Riaz offered some resistance with her 26 but fell to Gardner as Pakistan's innings ended in 19.5 overs.

"We are not up to the mark in batting. That's not how you approach T20 cricket, it's embarrassing and we need to change that and win games for Pakistan," said Ali.

"Everybody needs to step up and we need to have the confidence to win the last game."