NEW DELHI: Australia continued their unbeaten run in the Women’s T20 World Cup with a convincing 113-run win over Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday. However, despite winning all four matches so far, Australia have yet to secure a place in the semi-finals.South Africa and India can still finish with four wins each, keeping the race wide open. Australia, who have never made it to the semi-finals of the tournament, will play India in the final group stage match at a sold-out Lord’s on Sunday.Elsewhere, defending champions New Zealand and Sri Lanka kept their semi-final hopes alive with wins in Bristol. New Zealand beat Scotland by six wickets, while Sri Lanka beat Ireland by nine wickets.Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu made a memorable unbeaten 106, becoming only the eighth player to score a century in the history of the Women’s World T20 Cup. Her knock came just two days after she described herself as a “failed captain” following Sri Lanka’s defeat to the West Indies.Perry stars as Australia dominatesAustralia recovered after losing Beth Mooney on the very 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.Fully scored 39 while Perry made 71 from 48 deliveries. Useful contributions from Annabel Sutherland (27) and Nicole Carey (26) helped Australia finish well.Pakistan never recovered from their chase and they were bowled out for 86 in the 14th over. Three run-outs hurt their cause, with opener Muneeba Ali top-scoring with 32.Perry picked up two wickets in the over itself, while captain Sophie Molineux and Sutherland took two wickets each. Georgia Wareham also impressed, taking a wicket and bowling 11 dot balls in her two overs.“We’ve got options, we’ve got depth, we’re in a good position in that space,” Molineux said. “We always review our games and there are things we want to tick and even though we had a few strong wins I don’t think we ticked everything.”Athapaththa is powered by Sri LankaAthapaththu, playing in her tenth T20 World Cup, responded with flying colors after a disappointing start to the tournament.Against Ireland, she attacked from the start and reached her fifty in 32 balls. She then accelerated further and scored her first World Cup century and fourth T20 hundred overall. Her innings included 76 runs in boundaries.The Sri Lankan skipper finished unbeaten on 106 and scored the winning runs as Sri Lanka chased down the target with 4.3 overs to spare.“I got out early in the last game. I was disappointed about that, but today we won and that’s what’s important to me as a player, as a captain,” Athapaththu said. “I just played my natural game, I always attack. I did my best.”Ireland, still searching for their first win in 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 before beating Scotland by six goals.The White Ferns were struggling at 26/3 when Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday put together a 101-run partnership. Sharp led the recovery with a career-best 62 off 43 balls, while Halliday remained unbeaten on 41 as New Zealand reached 132/4 with 10 balls remaining.New Zealand captain Melie Kerr praised Sharp after the win.“She has the potential to be one of New Zealand’s best ever and the best in the world.”Earlier, Scotland looked set for a bigger total after Darcey Carter’s aggressive start to open the game. Carter scored an unbeaten 72 but the New Zealand bowlers pulled things together in the over.Sophie Devine struck twice in one over as Kerr finished with figures of 3/17, including a double wicket in the 19th over, as Scotland finished on 131/7.New Zealand’s chase got off to a shaky start but Sharp and Halliday settled the innings before making a late surge to secure an important victory.The tournament continues on Wednesday with an unbeaten England team against an unbeaten West Indies team.
