Molineux four-for powers Australia to 1-0
Alyssa Healy was among the runs again with a 35-ball 59, while Ashleigh Gardner’s 37-ball 63* helped power Australia to a daunting 195/3 after they had elected to bat on Thursday, 25 October. Then, Sophie Molineux, the left-arm spinner, returned 4/16 to help restrict Pakistan to 131/7.
Nothing really went Pakistan’s way all match. After losing the toss, their bowlers had to deal with Beth Mooney and Healy going big in tandem. They put on 75 runs for the opening wicket. It took Pakistan nearly eight overs to break the partnership, when Nashra Sandhu, the left-arm spinner, trapped Mooney (26-ball 38) in front.
Blazing half-centuries from @ahealy77 and Gardner took @SouthernStars to a massive 195/3, before Molineux
— ICC (@ICC) October 25, 2018
ran through the Pakistan line-up to wrap up a comfortable 64-run win in the first T20I.
SCORECARD ➡️ https://t.co/OnAtEUa5IN pic.twitter.com/YeLAW1zgIP
The wicket didn’t really open the floodgates, as Pakistan would have hoped. Healy and Gardner then joined forces, and added 38 for the second wicket in a little over four overs. They took the total past the 100-run mark, with Healy bringing up her fifth T20I half-century.
Pakistan had their second breakthrough when Aliya Riaz sent back Healy. Her 35-ball knock comprised nine fours and two sixes, and it was her fifth T20 half-century.
Pakistan then had Meg Lanning (6) dismissed, but with Gardner going gung-ho at the other end, the effects of that dismissal were minimal.
Gardner regularly found the fence in the death, and even slammed three fours of the final over sent by Sana Mir. By the time the innings ended, she had hammered nine fours and a six.
Pakistan needed big partnerships early on in their chase, but they couldn’t manage that – Muneeba Ali was dismissed for nought by Molineux and when captain Javeria Khan followed suit for a 12-ball 16, they were reduced to 27/2.
Nahida Khan found some support in Umaima Sohail, the debutant, and their 55-run stand for the third wicket kept Pakistan’s hopes up.
'I was trying to bowl to my strengths, and it worked out today'
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) October 25, 2018
You can say that again! Player of the Match, Sophie Molineux after taking a whopping 4-16 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/T3AJKtDYxD
Sohail kept things steady at one end, even as Khan played her shots at the other, but the dismissal of the more senior partner – it was Molineux again, cleaning up Khan – meant Pakistan were 82/3. That became 90/4 when Dar was kept to a 10-ball 5, and with the pressure building, Pakistan crumbled.
With Molineux claiming her fourth scalp – Riaz was dismissed for a 24-ball 19 – Australia managed to restrict Pakistan to 131/7.
The second T20I will be played on Saturday, 27 October.