"We're just focused on playing our roles" says Molineux before the last ODI

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"We're just focused on playing our roles" says Molineux before the last ODI

Sophie Molineux in action. ©Cricket Pakistan

Australia have now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in their series with Pakistan. They defeated the hosts by a massive 150-run margin in the second ODI. Australian captain Meg Lanning starred with the bat, scoring her 12th international century, while with the ball, Sophie Molineux did the damage. She finished with figures of 4-14.



Molineux spoke to Cricket Australia the day after the series win saying, "We're up and about today. Yesterday was really good. The Pakistani's came out and put a good fight on and it was really hard for us to take those 10 wickets. But, the game was set up with Meg making a big hundred and Rach (Rachael Haynes) batting really well alongside her. Then, to go out and take 10 wickets, in really tough conditions. The wickets weren't easy to get but, the girls are pretty happy. It's a good win."



No player or coach in the Australian squad had played in Malaysia before this series. Therefore, adapting to the conditions was a bit difficult. About that, Molineux commented, "It's pretty hot. It's quite humid. In terms of the pitch, it doesn't spin as much as we thought they would. They're a bit glassy and come on a little bit quicker. The girls have been working really hard in the nets to get themselves ready to go out there and tackle that. The batting units coming along very well, in terms of being able to adapt to these conditions."



Despite the pitches not being as spin-friendly as they had previously thought, according to Molineux, the reason why she and fellow spinners Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardener have been able to take wickets is because "we're just focused on playing our roles. We've learnt over the past couple of games that it takes a lot of patience and our plan is to just hit the stumps. I think that's going to be effective, no matter what conditions we're in. It's gone our way the last couple of games and hopefully, it will next game."



Molineux made her Twenty-20 debut against India recently. Her ODI debut came at the start of this series, which was, in her words, "really cool. Rach presented my cap which was really special and to get out there and have a run around in 50-over format was really good. To be able to get that first wicket was nice as well."



Debuting alongside her was Wareham. The two play for Victoria together back in Australia and Molineux says to get first ODI cap the same day Wareham got hers' was "pretty special." She further added, "Wolfie (Wareham) and I have played a lot of cricket together in the last five, six years. We're sharing a house together now so, to be able to make a debut for Australia together is really special and I'll forever remember that." Molineux also raved about Wareham's fielding skills, calling her a "little machine" and giving us an insight into the Victorian structure, where she is called Jonty Rhodes. "It's so good seeing her out there and doing what she does because I know she's been able to do it at every level and now she can do it at the Aussie level. I'm really happy to see her go well and enjoying herself out there."



The Australian team has led the improvement in the standard of fielding in the women's game. Though recently, in their series against New Zealand, they have been guilty of putting down a couple of catches. Regarding the teams fielding, Molineux said, "Definitely after the last series... we put a big emphasis coming over here, on our fielding. We worked a little bit on that over the last couple of days, leading into this series. We all know we can field, it's just about getting that confidence back again. Those catches either stick, or they don't and we're starting to take them now. I think that's one thing we've worked out. There's a lot to work on and we're coming out now and getting the job done."



The two teams will face each other in one last ODI before moving onto the Twenty-20's. As for what Australia might look to improve upon in it, Molineux said, "With the bat, it'll be nice to get another big score. Hopefully, crack the 300, even. You just never know on each day because the conditions are so different over here. We have to play it out as it comes. I think we just want to keep playing our game and our brand and, adapting to whatever Pakistan brings us. Hopefully, just continue the momentum and see how we go."
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