In the first of their five-match international series, Beth Mooney led Australia to a nine-wicket victory against India, proving once more why she is arguably the best T20 batter in women’s cricket.
The left-hander batted her way to an unbeaten 89, and with help from the new skipper, Alyssa Healy, and the all-rounder Tahlia McGrath, she made a potentially challenging mark in Mumbai look like a piece of cake as the world champions retained their magnificent unbroken record in all formats in 2022.
After putting up 172 for five, India, who are the all-conquering Australians’ closest white-ball rivals, must have believed they had a chance to become the first team to defeat Healy’s team this year. The wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh (36 off 20) and Deepti Sharma (36* off 15) provided crucial late impetus.
But Healy, the team’s new captain, scored a quick 37 off 23 balls in response after the opener was cheaply dismissed after a full toss. He then watched as Mooney, the top T20 batter, took charge at the DY Patil Stadium by shifting into the most alluring of top gears.
The 28-year-old Victorian was ably backed by McGrath, whose 40 not out came off 29 balls, ensuring that the needed run rate never became out of control without the need for slogging. Instead, she went to her undefeated 89 off just 57 balls with 16 boundaries.
As the Australians coasted to 173 for one with 11 balls remaining, they put together an unbroken 100-run partnership for the second wicket off 56 balls, winning their 21st game overall in 2022 over T20Is, ODIs, and Tests.
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