Women’s T20 World Cup: Australia begin title defence with six-wicket win

The opening matches of this World Cup have seen several low scores as teams learn to adjust to the slow pitch and outfield, particularly at Sharjah, and for once, Australia were no exception.

In the first innings, it was a complete mismatch in class between the sides as Sri Lanka’s batters had no answers to Megan Schutt’s accuracy in the opening powerplay, with the seamer finishing with 3-12 and Ash Gardner getting the key scalp of Athapaththu.

Brown had a difficult day as she struggled with her run-up and against a stronger team, Australia could have been punished – out of Sri Lanka’s dire powerplay of 23-2, 14 of the runs came from extras or free hits.

But while the win was set up by the bowlers, batting seemed particularly difficult, even for a world-class line-up that boasts all-rounder Annabel Sutherland batting as low as eight.

Healy may have been fatigued from 20 overs of keeping when she missed a straight one from Udeshika Prabodhani, Wareham was short of her ground from Kavisha Dilhari’s excellent throw and Perry was going nicely with 17 from 15 balls before a rare error in judgement, going back to the spinner when the ball was keeping low.

Mooney then added 43 for the fourth wicket with Gardner, who eventually fell for 12 with just 15 more runs required, and she provided the perfect blend of calmness and confidence that was required.

She was visibly exhausted, with her shirt drenched in sweat and an ice pack balanced on her head during the drinks break, but it was testament to her determination and stamina that she kept pushing ones and twos when the boundaries were difficult to come by.

Sharjah in particular looks like a ground that will be dictated by the pitch and its long boundaries, and if the world’s best and fittest team are finding it tough, others will be alarmed.