Australia begin World Cup defence with crushing win over SL

Women's T20 World Cup, Sharjah

Sri Lanka 93-7 (20 overs): De Silva 29* (40); Schutt 3-12

Australia 94-4 (14.2 overs): Mooney 43* (38), Perry 17 (15)

Australia won by six wickets

Scorecard

Australia began the defence of their T20 World Cup rubric with a comfy six-wicket triumph implicit Sri Lanka successful Sharjah.

The six-time champions suffered a flimsy wobble, falling to 35-3 successful pursuit of conscionable 94, but opener Beth Mooney's unbeaten 43 led them implicit the enactment with 34 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka were thoroughly outplayed successful a pitiful batting effort and crawled to 93-7 from their 20 overs arsenic Australia started successful predictably ruthless fashion.

And portion Sri Lanka fought bravely with the 3 aboriginal wickets connected a dilatory transportation offering immoderate uneven bounce, they yet paid the terms for specified a paltry full arsenic Australia's spot successful extent erstwhile again prevailed.

The sluggish transportation did not let for Australia's accustomed free-flowing style, arsenic skipper Alyssa Healy fell for four, Georgia Wareham was clumsily tally retired for 3 and prima all-rounder Ellyse Perry was bowled for 17.

Yet Mooney, who was dropped connected 22, held her nervus contempt struggling successful the brutal heat.

There were besides immoderate uncharacteristic mistakes successful the field, with 5 front-foot no-balls bowled and Darcie Brown dropping a elemental catch, but Healy's broadside recovered brilliantly with a relentless show to stifle Sri Lanka.

Nilakshi de Silva and Harshitha Samarawickrama made 29 and 23 respectively but their efforts came from 35 and 40 balls, arsenic skipper Chamari Athapaththu's aboriginal departure erstwhile again proved costly.

Sri Lanka are present facing a disappointing group-stage exit having mislaid their 2 opening matches, needing a large triumph against India connected Wednesday and for different results to spell their way.

Australia look New Zealand connected Monday, a tantalising imaginable aft the White Ferns' emphatic triumph implicit India successful their opener.

More to follow.