Australia Demolish Pakistan by 107 Runs in One-Sided Affair

In a mismatch that exposed the chasm between defending champions and contenders, Australia Women inflicted a 107-run drubbing on Pakistan Women in Match 9 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 8. Batting first under the UAE’s relentless sun, Australia recovered from a top-order wobble to post 221 for 9, with Annabel Sutherland’s explosive 67 off 52 balls proving the difference-maker, before their bowlers—spearheaded by Megan Schutt’s 4 for 22—shattered Pakistan for just 114 in 36.3 overs. This authoritative victory extended Australia’s unbeaten run to two, their net run rate ballooning to +2.012 and semi-final pathway clearing, while Pakistan, stunned in their opener, crashed to a net run rate of -2.345, facing an uphill climb against a resurgent Bangladesh.

The afternoon clash, on a dry, slow surface offering turn and skid, drew a modest expatriate crowd of 7,000, their green flags fluttering in vain hope for an upset akin to Pakistan’s 2022 Asia Cup heroics. Yet, Alyssa Healy’s tactical nous—rotating bowlers ruthlessly and setting aggressive fields—turned the game into a masterclass, Pakistan’s batters unable to counter the spin web or seam bite. For skipper Bismah Maroof, the capitulation was a rude awakening, her side’s fielding errors and bowling leaks compounding a batting implosion. As Australia’s dugout erupted in cheers at the close, the tournament’s pecking order sharpened: the Aussies march on, Pakistan pondering rebuilds ahead of a do-or-die with Sri Lanka.

Healy’s toss win prompted a bat-first call, banking on the dew-free conditions to post a defendable total on a pitch expected to slow further. Australia’s XI was a powerhouse of experience: Healy (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, and Darcie Brown. The benching of Mooney for Sutherland’s all-round punch added firepower, King’s leg-spin the foil to Pakistan’s sweepers. Pakistan, under new coach Moeez Khan, fielded a blend of youth and grit: Muneeba Ali (wk), Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof (c), Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Omaima Sohail, Fatima Sana, Nashra Sundhu, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, and Natalia Pervaiz. Dar’s off-spin and Sana’s seam were linchpins, with debutant Pervaiz’s pace injecting variety.

Umpires Adrian Holdstock and Jacqueline Williams signaled start amid the arid heat, Litchfield and Healy facing Iqbal’s left-arm angle on a strip with visible cracks.

Australia’s innings started shakily, the top order undone by Pakistan’s disciplined new ball. Iqbal struck first over: her inswinger trapped Litchfield lbw for a duck, the ball nipping back to hit middle-and-leg—0 for 1. McGrath joined Healy, but Baig’s bouncer induced McGrath’s top-edge to Muneeba for 4 off 6, 5 for 2 in the fourth. Perry arrived, her poise a counter: she flicked Iqbal off her pads for four, but fell to Sundhu’s arm ball at 28 for 3 in the 10th—edging to slip for 9 off 15. Mooney and Healy rebuilt cautiously: Mooney nurdled Sana through point, Healy’s swept four off Dar a release. Their 45-run stand off 62 balls pushed to 73 for 3 at drinks, Healy reaching 25 off 38 amid dots.

Post-interval, acceleration flickered. Sutherland promoted, lofted Sundhu over mid-on for six, her intent lifting the rate. But Dar deceived Mooney—bowled by a quicker one for 22 off 41, turning past the sweep. At 85 for 4 after 22 overs, Australia teetered, but Sutherland and Gardner ignited: Sutherland pulled Baig for four, Gardner’s reverse sweep off Dar racing away. Their 62-run stand off 68 balls was pivotal—Sutherland’s fifty off 48 balls marked by a slogged six over deep square. Gardner reached 28 with a driven boundary off Iqbal, pushing to 147 for 4 by the 35th.

Pakistan clawed: Pervaiz’s yorker bowled Gardner for 28 off 39, Jonassen skied Sana to cover for 5—155 for 6 in 37th. King scratched 2 before edging Dar to slip, Schutt holed out to long-on off Sundhu for 0—167 for 8 in 41st. Sutherland’s fireworks peaked: she smashed Pervaiz for two sixes over cow corner, racing to 67 off 52 (7 fours, 3 sixes). Brown (8 off 10) and Healy (31 off 52) added 54 in the death, Healy’s late pull for four off Baig closing at 221 for 9. Pakistan’s bowlers—Dar 3-42, Sundhu 3-48—fought, but 19 extras aided; Healy later credited, “Annabel’s power turned it; we adapted to the slowness.”

Pakistan’s chase was a debacle from the outset, their openers flailing against Australia’s seam-spin cocktail. Muneeba and Amin faced Schutt’s swing: Muneeba flicked Brown fine for four, but Amin edged Schutt’s outswinger to Healy for 2 off 8—4 for 1 in the third. Maroof joined Muneeba, but Brown’s lifter induced Maroof’s glove to short leg for 0 off 3—4 for 2. At 12 for 2 after six overs, needing 210 off 264, Pakistan scrambled. Dar arrived early, nurgling singles, but Schutt returned to trap Muneeba lbw for 8 off 22—the inswinger too full.

Riaz and Dar rebuilt gingerly: Riaz swept King fine for four, Dar’s straight drive off Perry yielding a boundary. Their 28-run stand off 42 balls crawled to 40 for 3 at drinks, the required rate climbing to 6.50. But Australia’s spinners strangled: Gardner’s off-break bowled Riaz for 12 off 25, the ball drifting in. Sohail scratched 3 before chipping Jonassen to midwicket, 48 for 5 in 20th. Sana entered aggressively—pulling Brown for six—but holed out to long-on off Gardner for 9 off 12, 57 for 6 in 23rd.

Sundhu and Dar resisted: Sundhu’s swept four off King, Dar reaching 20 off 48 with a flicked boundary off Sutherland. Their 32-run stand off 52 balls offered faint hope, pushing to 89 for 6 by the 30th, but Brown shattered it—clean bowling Sundhu for 10 off 22 with a yorker. Baig (1 off 5) edged Schutt to slip, 90 for 8 in 32nd. Iqbal and Dar fought: Iqbal’s defiant four off Gardner, Dar’s slog-swept six off King—her 30 off 62 a lone rearguard. But Schutt’s fourth strike—bowling Iqbal for 5 off 9—left 104 for 9 in 35th. Pervaiz scratched 0 before Dar’s vigil ended, stumped off King’s googly for 30—114 all out in 36.3 overs. Australia’s attack ruthless: Schutt’s 4-22 a vintage spell, Gardner 3-25, Brown 2-28. Fielding sharp—two run-outs threatened—Pakistan’s run rate a dismal 3.13; Maroof sighed, “We panicked; Australia’s class overwhelmed.”

Healy, all grins, said, “Megan’s swing was lethal; we executed our plans.” Sutherland, Player of the Match, added, “67 on a tough track felt sweet; depth showed.” For Pakistan, Dar’s 30 a flicker, their bowling average 4.42 heartening but batting 12.67 alarming. Sundhu’s 3-48 promising, yet extras (15) costly.

Fallout reshaped early standings. Australia’s demolition cements top spot, Sutherland’s emergence (strikerate 129) a post-Haynes boost, Schutt’s 4-22 her 150th wicket. Perry’s economy (3.50) looms large, their attack’s stranglehold a semi-final edge.

Pakistan, opener shattered, stare abyss: NRR dire, top-order average 5, Maroof’s 0 a captaincy low. Dar’s all-round grit sole solace, but youth like Sohail (3) falters. Bangladesh next: redemption or rout, their 2022 upsets a distant echo.

This thrashing wasn’t mere superiority; it was a dissection—Australia’s precision pulverizing Pakistan’s promise. Sharjah’s sands shifted, the World Cup’s giants striding, minnows mindful of the climb.