Big concern for Australia as captain Healy hobbles off in group game

Match Centre and Scorecard

Healy had played a leading role in putting her team on the brink of victory in the contest, hitting a brilliant 37 from just 23 balls as her excellent tournament continued.

But the Australia captain pulled up in the process of running a single off the first ball of the tenth over and was forced to retire hurt, leaving the field in clear discomfort.

The 34-year-old has endured calf injuries in the past and on first look it appeared that she had picked up a similar such injury in the incident.

And in a statement released following the game, Australia said:

"Alyssa sustained an acute right foot injury while running between wickets. Once we have more information based on her assessment and scans tomorrow, her availability for the remainder of the tournament will be clearer."

Healy hobbles and retires hurt in Pakistan chase | WT20WC 2024

The injury was the second for Australia in the match, who earlier lost Tayla Vlaeminck to a dislocated shoulder – an injury she sustained while fielding on the boundary in the first over of the match.

Vlaeminck chased down an outside edge, but her knee stuck in the ground as she attempted a slide, and on reaching out for balance she hurt the previously-injured shoulder.

Unfortunate injury forces Vlaeminck off the field | WT20WC 2024

Speaking between innings, her teammate Megan Schutt spoke about her teammate, saying: “She gives a hundred percent all the time. We will rally around her and try to keep her happy.”

And in a statement released later in the game, the Australian team said:

“Tayla dislocated her right shoulder while attempting to stop a boundary. Her shoulder is now relocated and the extent of the injury will be known following further assessment over the coming days.”

And following the match, Tahlia McGrath said that the players will rally around the injured bowler, and that it was difficult but important for the team that they focussed on the match itself.

“Heartbroken for her, she's had a really unlucky run of injuries and has done some really hard rehab so we'll rally around her and see what comes in the next few days," McGrath said.

“We all love Tayla. It was pretty hard to watch to be honest it was really hard… so it was just (a case of) come together as a group and focus on the job at hand and we'll get around her after the game. It's really important in that moment just to refocus and regroup.”

Australia conclude their Group A campaign against India in Sharjah on Sunday.