Women’s World Cup 2022: Here’s how points table stands after Bangladesh vs Australia match

Australia remains unbeaten throughout the group stage of the Women’s World Cup 2022 as they bag seven wins in as many matches, and end the league stage as table leaders. They defeated the debutants Bangladesh in their last fixture, winning the game by five wickets, with 65 balls remaining. Bangladesh did scare them a bit in the beginning, but Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 66 rescued them out of the trouble.

With rain delaying the toss and shortening the game to 43-over-a-side, the play at the Basin Reserve between Australia and Bangladesh started late in the day. Aussies were playing their last game on the league stage before entering the semi-finals. Their performance in the past six games that they’d played had made them the top contenders for the championship.

The result was predicted by all, but the twists were expected by none. Winning the toss, Australia elected to bowl first. The wind conditions at the venue were a major disadvantage for both teams, but it was even more difficult for Bangladesh to face the Australian attack, as this was their first World Cup stint.

Beth Mooney helps her side from tumbling down as Australia keep their winning streak alive

The Aussies restricted Bangladesh to 135/6 in 43 overs, in what looked like an easy win for the chase. But the second half of the game unleashed the unseen side of Bangladesh, who put up a great bowling show against the Aussies. Salma Khatun, the skipper, dismissed Australia’s top order minutes into the game as they struggled at 28/3 at the end of ten overs.

Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes, and skipper Meg Lanning were all out within a few minutes into the game. Lanning hadn’t expected being dismissed for an eight-ball duck on her birthday. Adding to that, Nahida Akter successfully picked up Tahlia McGrath’s wicket and left the Aussies stumbling at 41/4 at the end of the 13th over. It was Beth Mooney who saved her side from that drastic downfall as she anchored her team to the much-anticipated victory. With this win, Australia have extended their winning streak to 19 ODI wins.

Notably, Australia and South Africa qualified for the semi-finals, grabbing the first two spots respectively. Three more matches are to be played before the knock-out stage. The fight for making it to third and fourth place keeps going. The three main teams in contention are India, West Indies, and England. India and England will be putting in their blood, toil, tears, and sweat in their final games, and West Indies, having finished all their league games, will be just hoping for the best.

ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 – Points Table