Women's T20 WC: 'Did my job pretty well today,' says Mooney after match-winning 74 against Netherlands
Southampton, June 20
Australia opener Beth Mooney brushed aside concerns over the back issue that forced her to retire hurt and said she was pleased to have played her role in Australia's commanding 98-run victory over the Netherlands in the Women's T20 World Cup at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
Mooney was named Player of the Match after scoring a brilliant 74 off 42 balls, helping Australia post a record-equalling 219/6 before restricting the Netherlands to 121/3 to register their third consecutive win of the tournament.
The left-hander retired hurt after the 14th over following what appeared to be discomfort in her back, but she assured that the issue was not serious.
"Yeah, I'm all good. Just, probably, just not used to all the bus travel we've been doing that leads to Southampton trips, pretty long ones. So I look forward to that again tomorrow," Mooney said with a smile after receiving the Player of the Match award.
Mooney once again provided Australia with a strong platform at the top of the order. After Georgia Voll gave Australia an aggressive start with 17 off nine balls, Mooney took charge of the innings and kept the scoreboard moving at a rapid pace.
She struck nine fours and a six during her innings and shared two crucial partnerships that laid the foundation for Australia's massive total. First, she combined with Voll to give Australia early momentum before adding a match-defining stand with Ashleigh Gardner.
Gardner, returning to the side after missing Australia's previous match, smashed 58 off 32 deliveries as the pair dominated the Netherlands bowling attack during the middle overs.
Reflecting on her innings, Mooney said her primary responsibility as an opener was to set up the innings and score runs for the team.
"I guess, you know, as an opening batter, it's important to probably get jobs to score runs. So from my point of view, I just did my job pretty well today and had a couple of good partnerships there, first with Georgia Voll and then Ash Gardner," she said.
Australia's batting effort was further strengthened by Georgia Wareham's explosive 41 off 18 balls and a late cameo from Annabel Sutherland as the six-time champions matched England's tournament-record score of 219.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The way Mooney and Gardner dominated the middle overs was pure carnage! 219 total is just massive. But honestly, Netherlands didn't even try to chase properly. They were happy playing for survival. In women's cricket, we need more competitive teams, not just one-sided matches. Still, Mooney is a legend. 👏
As an Indian cricket fan, I have to admit – Australia women's team is miles ahead in fitness and mental toughness. Mooney retiring hurt and then joking about bus travel shows incredible spirit. Meanwhile, our girls struggle with injuries and pressure in big matches. Time for BCCI to invest more in women's cricket infrastructure. Just saying! 🤔
Mooney's innings was brilliant, but can we talk about Ash Gardner's comeback? 58 off 32 after missing the previous match is phenomenal! The depth in Australia's batting is scary – even their number 7 can score 41 off 18! That's the kind of bench strength we need to develop in India. From grassroots to international level, we need a proper pathway for women cricketers. 🏏💪
Great knock from Mooney, but I wish the tournament had more competitive matches. Netherlands just aren't at that level yet. The gap between top teams and the rest is still huge in women's cricket. On the bright side, Australia's batting display was spectacular – nine fours and a six from Mooney, and that partnership with Gardner was textbook. World Cup cricket at its best!
I genuinely respect how Mooney treats every match with same intensity whether it's Netherlands or England. That's the
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