Australia vs Pakistan Highlights, T20 World Cup 2024: Australia Women won by 9 wickets

Sophie Molineux to Sadaf Shamas, RUN OUT CHANCE MISSED! Instead, an overthrow is taken. Full, outside off, Sadaf Shamas pushed it down the ground towards mid on. But the bowler Molinexu herself gets across to the ball and stops it. Now, the batters are already off for a single and there is a run out on offer, at both ends. But surprisingly, the bowler goes for a tougher end, that is her end, as she can see only one stump. Misses her shy and the fielder from cover cannot backup either. The ball rolls behind and there is a chance for two overthrows but Pakistan settle with one. So two runs eventually.

Sophie Molineux to Sadaf Shamas, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Sadaf Shamas walks in at number 3, replacing her skipper, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi.

Sophie Molineux to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, OUT! CAUGHT! 22 balls needed for Australia for their first strike. With no boundaries so far, Pakistan were desperate to change the tempo and something had to give. Molineux just flighted this a bit outside off, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi got down on a knee and went for the attacking slog. However, she could not quite get to the pitch of the ball and could not quite hit it from the middle of the bat. It took the bottom part and hence, there was no elevation. Good leaping catch by Phoebe Litchfield at short mid-wicket. The skipper departs for 7 (12) and Pakistan Women are 13/1 after 3.4 overs!

Sophie Molineux to Sidra Amin,  Outside off, pushed through the off side for a single.

Sophie Molineux to Sidra Amin, Sidra shows her intentions pretty early. Goes for the reverse sweep and seeing that, Sophie Molineux fires it down the leg side. Gets it off the toe end of her bat towards point.

Will Sophie Molineux be able to provide a breakthrough?

Sophie Molineux to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Full, just around off, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi taps it with soft hands through mid-wicket and takes a quick single. There is a direct hit at the keeper's end but Sidra is well in.

Megan Schutt to Sidra Amin, Another one coming in a long way from outside off, SA looks to flick but misses. No appeal from Australia again as this one was comfortably heading down leg.

Megan Schutt to Sidra Amin, Fuller, outside off, Amin drives it straight to short extra cover.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, First real attacking shot of the game. Landed outside off, Muneeba gives herself some room to the leg side and goes inside out, over cover. But there is protection in the deep and it will be just a run.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Comes around the wicket to the left-hander, does Schutt, targets the stumps, bowls it full and Muneeba Ali Siddiqi blocks.

Megan Schutt to Sidra Amin, Dropped short now, kind of gets stuck on the deck. Amin fetches it from outside off and pulls it through square leg for a single.

Megan Schutt to Sidra Amin, Hmmm... inswing. Full, outside off, Sidra Amin walks across to flick but the ball comes in a long way in the air and beats her attempt. Not sure whether there was any bat involved before hitting the pad but no one appealed for LBW.

Ash Gardner to Sidra Amin, A bit of turn now, from outside off, SA helps it with the turn through square leg for one.

Ash Gardner to Sidra Amin, That's well swept. Full, outside off, the ball actually holds up in the pitch as well. But Sidra adjusts, gets down low and sweeps it nicely behind square leg. Gets a brace.

Ash Gardner to Sidra Amin, Slower through the air, outside off, Amin waits for the ball to arrive and dabs it through point but straight to the fielder.

Ash Gardner to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Fuller, around middle, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi clips it through square leg for a run.

Ash Gardner to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Gets across her stumps and goes for the sweep. There is a bit of extra bounce and the ball goes off the top edge slightly, over the keeper, through fine leg. First slip gets across and keeps the batters to a couple.

Ash Gardner to Sidra Amin, Fuller to start, around middle, Sidra Amin sweeps it away for a single.

Who will it be from the other end? A spinner. Ash Gardner it shall be.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Landed outside off, steered towards the off side. A decent start by Schutt but Australia are already a bowler down before an over could be completed.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Outside off, eased towards point.

Going off, is Tayla Vlaeminck. The bad news for her is that she is not even walking properly. She is being assisted by the physio and one of her teammates. Vlaeminck, one of the upcoming speedsters in Australia, was missing the action due to a leg injury and this is certainly not good for her on return. DARCIE BROWN is on the field for her as a substitute.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Oh dear. Injury concerns already? This is not looking good. It is the change for this game, Tayla Vlaeminck and she is not even getting up. This is going to be a huge, huge blow to the youngster. Coming to the ball, it was a delivery which was coming in, but then swinging away late. The skipper pushed at it and got a healthy outside edge, to the left of first slip. Vlaeminck gives it a good chase from short third, gets to the ball and puts in a tumble but while doing so, her knee gets stuck in the turf. She manages to save the boundary but is down in pain. Two runs taken.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Almost identical to the previous two balls and the skipper almost falls into the trap. Siddiqi goes for the drive away from her body, without moving her feet and luckily for her, misses.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Similar line, hint of outswing, a watchful Muneeba pushes it towards point.

Megan Schutt to Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, Slower ball to start. Schutt pushes the ball across the left-hander, bowling it full, outside off, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi watches it go past.

Time for the national anthems. Australia are the first team on paper for this game, so it will be Pakistan's anthem first, followed by Australia's. Right, 'Pak Sarzamin' and 'Advance Australia Fair' are done and we are ready for Game number 14 to begin! Some last-minute words by skipper Healy to her unit and off they go, spreading themselves onto the field. A different opening pair for Pakistan here as there is no Gull Feroza. The consistent batter, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, also the captain for this game, strides out confidently, with a new opening partner, Sidra Amin. We are informed that this is only the second time in Women's T20Is that both teams have captains who will be keeping wickets and also opening the batting! Of course, assuming that Alyssa will open later. It will be pace to kickstart things. Megan Schutt to start off, against the left-handed Muneeba. Here we go!

Before the game starts, let's look at how the results have come up in Dubai, especially in this World Cup. This is the 7th match at this venue and there has been a pattern brewing. In the first 4 games, the teams chasing won 3 times, but it has been 2 in 2 for the side batting first of late. Dew was expected but it has not arrived and batting under lights has been extremely difficult. Will it be the same tonight as well? Even LIsa Sthalekar, former Aussie World Cup champion, expressed her surprise with Healy looking to bowl. An experiment, maybe? Not sure, at this stage in a World Cup, even if you are on top.

Before the toss, Sophie Molineux had a chat with former West Indian great, Ian Bishop. Molineux says that she has spent a bit of time on the sidelines in the last few months but is eager to make up for that lost time now. On her couple of wickets in the previous game, Sophie says that everyone chipped in with wickets and there was a fresh bit of energy amongst the group. On playing their first game in Dubai, Molineux says that Australia will certainly have to adapt quickly to the conditions. Calls Pakistan a tough opposition but says that there has been some planning made in the dressing room and hopes that all of those get executed in this match.

PITCH REPORT - Alison Mitchell is at the pitchside and she starts with the weather being perfect for the game. She further informs that the ground dimensions are 63 metres and 57 metres on either side and the longest is 73 metres up straight. Carlos Brathwaite is alongside her to study the wicket and he says that the wicket looks to be a good one and will have a good consistent bounce throughout the game. There is going to be some turn on the surface and the fast bowlers will also get good bounce and swing with the new ball.

The stand-in skipper for Pakistan Women, Muneeba Ali Siddiqi says she is feeling good leading the pack and looking forward to winning this contest. Mentions that the news concerning Sana came as a setback for all but such things are not in one's hand and the entire squad feels sad for her. Informs that they have a couple of changes with Iram Javed replacing Fatima Sana and Sadaf Shamas replacing Gull Feroza. Closes by saying they need to put up a good total on board and make sure to bring out their A-game against a champion side. 

Alyssa Healy, says that her reason to bowl first is more of a gut feel. Her first assessment is that the wicket is fresh and under lights, the ball might come onto the bat. But they also want to see how the conditions are and says that they will look to plan accordingly to come out and chase. Further adds that the wicket might grip and turn as the game progresses and they are prepared for that too. Informs that Tayla Vlaeminck comes in for Grace Harris. On being asked about that change, Healy stresses that it is more for impact for impact. In the previous game, they got Harris in, believing that the batting needed depth while for this one, they want to add an extra bowling option in the side.

Pakistan Women (Playing XI) - Muneeba Ali Siddiqi (C) (WK), Sidra Amin, Nida Dar, Sadaf Shamas (IN FOR GULL FEROZA), Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed (IN FOR FATIMA SANA), Omaima Sohail, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal and Syeda Aroob Shah.

Australia Women (Playing XI) - Alyssa Healy (C) (WK), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt and Tayla Vlaeminck (IN FOR GRACE HARRIS).

TOSS - All ready for the flip of the coin. Tails is the call from Muneeba Ali Siddiqi, the stand-in skipper for Pakistan Women but it turns out as a Head. AUSTRALIA WOMEN ELECT TO CHASE.