Women's T20 World Cup: Beth Mooney-Alyssa Healy shine against Sri Lanka as Australia close in on semi-final spot

Defending champions Australia displayed an all-round performance against Sri Lanka to move clear at the top of Group 1 in the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2023.

Megan Schutt took a four-wicket haul before Australia openers Beth Mooney (56*) and Alyssa Healy (54*) handed their side a 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at St George's Park, Gqeberha on Thursday (February 16).

With their third consecutive win, Australia are all but certain to book a semi-final spot.

Sri Lanka had a decent start after being put into bat. Harshitha Samarawickrama and captain Chamari Athapaththu were steadily building a partnership, but Ellyse Perry ruined their plan as she dismissed Athapaththu for 16. Harshitha found support in Vishmi Gunaratne before Grace Harris sent Harshitha packing for 34.

Harris



took her second wicket of the day by removing Oshadi Ranasinghe for a four-ball duck. Sri Lanka's lower middle-order could not lift their side as Megan Schutt ran through the tailenders to restrict Sri Lanka to 112/8.

For Australia, Schutt took four wickets, Harris picked two, and Perry and Wareham shared one each.

In reply, Mooney and Healy got off to a terrific start as the two did not waste much time to wrap up the match with more than four overs to spare. Both the openers reached their individual fifties.

Along the way, Healy broke the record for hitting the most half-centuries at Women's T20 World Cups (7), moving past Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) and Suzie Bates (New Zealand).

Australia will next play against the hosts South Africa on February 18 at St George's Park, Gqeberha.