New Delhi: Australia continued their unbeaten run in the Women’s T20 World Cup with a 113-run win over Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday. However, despite winning all four of their matches so far, Australia have yet to secure a place in the finals.South Africa and India can still finish with four wins each, keeping the competition open. Australia, who have never failed to reach the semifinals of the tournament, will face India in their final match at Lord’s on Sunday.Elsewhere, defending champions New Zealand and Sri Lanka kept their semi-final hopes alive with wins in Bristol. New Zealand defeated Scotland by six wickets, while Sri Lanka defeated Ireland by nine wickets.Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu produced an unforgettable unbeaten 106, becoming the eighth player to score a century in Women’s T20 World Cup history. His knock came just two days after he described himself as a “failure as a captain” following Sri Lanka’s defeat in the West Indies.Perry stars as Australia dominatesAustralia recovered from losing Beth Mooney on the first ball to reach 199/7. Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll led the charge with a 100-run partnership that came in just 56 balls.Voll scored 39, while Perry made 71 of 48 carries. Useful contributions from Annabel Sutherland (27) and Nicola Carey (26) helped Australia finish strongly.Pakistan never recovered from their chase and were bowled out for 86 in the 14th over. Three run-outs hurt them, with opener Muneeba Ali scoring 32.Perry took two wickets in her only over, while captain Sophie Molineux and Sutherland took two wickets each. Georgia Wareham also impressed, taking a wicket and bowling 11 balls in her two overs.“We have options, we have depth, we are in a good position,” Molineux said. “We always look at our game and there are things we want to improve on, and even though we’ve had a few wins, I don’t think we’ve done anything.”Athapaththu rules Sri LankaAthapaththu, playing in his 10th T20 World Cup, responded well after a disappointing start to the tournament.Against Ireland, he attacked from the get-go as he reached his fifty off 32 balls. He then raced to register his maiden World Cup and T20 hundred. His innings included 76 boundaries.The Sri Lankans finished unbeaten on 106 and conceded the winning runs as Sri Lanka lost with 4.3 overs to spare.“I came out early in the last game. I was disappointed but we won today and that is important for me as a player, as a captain,” Athapaththu said. “I just played my natural game, always attacking. I tried to do my best.”Ireland, still looking for their first win of the Women’s T20 World Cup, recovered from an early collapse thanks to captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul. Lewis scored 59 off 50 balls before being dismissed by Athapaththu.Sharp and Halliday save New ZealandNew Zealand survived an early scare to defeat Scotland by six wickets.The White Ferns were struggling on 26/3 when Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday came together to put on a 101-run stand. Sharp led the recovery with a superb 62 off 43 balls, while Halliday made an unbeaten 41 as New Zealand reached 132/4 with 10 balls to spare.New Zealand captain Melie Kerr praised Sharp after the win.“He has the potential to be one of the best in New Zealand and one of the best in the world.”Earlier, Scotland looked set to find a major threat after Darcey Carter’s aggressive start. Carter scored an unbeaten 72, but the New Zealand bowlers turned things around in the final over.Sophie Devine took two wickets, while Kerr finished with figures of 3/17, including two wickets in the 19th over, as Scotland finished on 131/7.New Zealand’s chase got off to a shaky start, but Sharp and Halliday strengthened the innings before making a late run to secure a vital win.The tournament continues on Wednesday when unbeaten England take on unbeaten West Indies.
