Beth Mooney made 74 before retiring hurt as Australia beat the Netherlands by 98 runs in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Southampton on Saturday.
Australia were sent in and reached 219-6, equalling the highest team total in Women’s T20 World Cup history, before restricting the Netherlands to 121-3.
Mooney’s 42-ball innings set the tone before back stiffness forced her to retire hurt, while Ashleigh Gardner added 58 and Georgia Wareham struck 41 from 18 balls. The result leaves Australia three wins from three in Group A and firmly in control of their qualification push.
Mooney Injury The Only Concern After Australia Power Past Netherlands
Australia’s batting depth made the margin feel routine, but Mooney’s fitness will be watched closely after she left the innings as a precaution. ESPNcricinfo reported that Mooney retired hurt with back stiffness after top-scoring in the 98-run win.
The Netherlands still produced a useful marker of their own. Babette de Leede made an unbeaten half-century and shared a 96-run stand with Sterre Kalis, but Australia’s total had already pushed the chase out of reach.
Mooney was named player of the match, and Australia now move on with both momentum and a small selection worry around one of their key top-order batters before their next Group A assignment.
