Healy and Mooney show powers Australia to a thumping victory over Bangladesh

Australia thumped Bangladesh by a huge margin of 86 runs at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Thursday (February 27) in the T20 World Cup. It was a very ruthless performance from the hosts after a couple of not-so-convincing ones. Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney starred with 83 and 81 respectively, before Australia's bowlers restricted Bangladesh to just 103.

The duo shared a stand worth 151 runs between them, to ensure there was only one result possible. Healy played a typical blistering innings which set the tone for hosts' huge total. The stylish wicketkeeper-batter scored ten boundaries and three sixes off just 53 balls and went on to dominate Bangladesh's bowlers. Mooney, on the other hand, played second fiddle to Healy and accelerated at the fag of the innings to put the hosts in a pole position.

Australia won the toss and opted to bat first on a good batting deck at Manuka Oval. Alyssa Healy was up and running as she scored 12 runs off very first over bowled by Jahanara Alam. The wicketkeeper-batter scored six boundaries in the power play and was comfortable with both pace and spin. At the other end, Mooney too settled nicely and started to attack. The duo brought the 50-run stand in just 34 balls and were threatening to take the game away from Bangladesh.

Soon, Healy brought her fourth T20 fifty in T20 World Cups off just 26 balls. Skipper Salma Khatun's ploy of bringing the spinners into attack backfired as the wicketkeeper-batter used her feet well and pounced on anything short and wide. At the halfway mark in the innings Australia posted 96. Mooney joined her partner and brought her first fifty of the tournament off 40 balls.

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Bangladesh finally broke the 151-run stand when they saw the back of Healy in the 17th over for 83 as Salma Khatun struck. That was the only success they could get as some pedestrian fielding and dropped catches from Bangladesh's fielders enabled Australia to finish strongly at 189 for the loss of one wicket. This total was also the highest in the Manuka Oval.

In pursuit of the daunting target, the visitors got off to a poor start as Megan Schutt, with her big booming in-swingers, removed Bangladesh's openers Murshida Khatun (8) and Shamima Sultana (4) inside the power play tottering at 27 for the loss of three wickets.

Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque started to resurrect Bangladesh's innings but the duo failed to score boundaries regularly. The required run-rate shot to 16 at the halfway mark and it was clear that there was only one way this match was heading.  Hoque and Nigar brought Bangladesh's second fifty-run stand in T20 World Cups. Just when Nigar (19) was looking to settle, she tried to heave one over mid-wicket, but only managed to find Lanning at covers.

Hoque's valiant effort of 36 ensured Bangladesh finish at 103/9 losing by 86 runs. Schutt and Jonassen picked up three and two wickets each for the hosts.

Brief scores: Australia 189/1 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 83, Beth Mooney 81*; Salma Khatun 1/39) beat Bangladesh 103/9 in 20 overs (Fargana Hoque 36; Megan Schutt 3/21, Jess Jonassen 2/17) by 86 runs. PoTM: Alyssa Healy.