Australia once again proved their dominance over England with a commanding six-wicket victory in the Women’s World Cup, chasing down 245 with 57 balls to spare in Indore. The match evoked painful memories for England, recalling their previous defeats to the same opposition earlier in the year.
Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner delivered a stunning partnership that left England deflated. Sutherland, who had already impressed as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, produced an all-round performance to remember. Her three wickets—dismissing Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Emma Lamb—restricted England to 244-9 before she powered to an unbeaten 98 with the bat. Gardner was equally unstoppable, smashing a magnificent 104 not out off just 95 balls, accelerating from fifty to a hundred in just 22 deliveries.
England had started brightly, reducing Australia to 68 for four thanks to Linsey Smith’s disciplined bowling. But the momentum soon shifted as Gardner and Sutherland took control, constructing a flawless 180-run stand that sealed victory and underlined Australia’s depth and composure under pressure.
Earlier, England’s innings was built around Tammy Beaumont’s 78 from 105 balls. Despite her solid start, England faltered in the middle overs, scoring just 26 runs between the 20th and 30th overs and managing only three boundaries across 21-40. The steady pressure applied by Alana King, who bowled a miserly 10-over spell for just 20 runs, derailed their scoring rhythm. Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt fell cheaply, while Sophia Dunkley’s reckless run-out summed up England’s frustration.
Late resistance from Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean lifted England past 240, but it was never likely to trouble a confident Australian lineup. Beaumont’s dismissal at long-on, brilliantly caught by Georgia Voll—making her World Cup debut—symbolized England’s missed opportunities and Australia’s athletic brilliance in the field.
With both sides already assured of semi-final places, Australia’s win secures their place at the top of the group, pending their clash with South Africa. England, meanwhile, face New Zealand next and will meet the loser of that game in the last four. For Australia, the victory reaffirms their reputation as the benchmark in women’s cricket, chasing what seems another inevitable world title.
