Fast bowler Darcie Brown and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham set up a second successive Women’s T20 World Cup win for Australia, who beat Bangladesh by eight wickets at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
But Bangladesh made the defending champions work for their victory, which came with ten balls to spare.
Brown took two for 23 while leg-spinner Georgia Wareham had a successful return to international cricket, taking three for 20 in a Bangladesh total of 107 for seven.
Wareham suffered a left knee cruciate ligament injury in October 2021.
It’s been a big week for the spinner who was taken by the Gujarat Giants at the Women’s Premier League auction for $131,000.
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“It’s pretty special to play for your country but to do that in a World Cup and get some wickets was pretty cool,” Warehman said.“It’s really cool for the selectors to back me in to come to this World Cup without having played much cricket.”
Australia captain Meg Lanning said Wareham was a “game-changer” and showed why she was picked for the squad.
“She’s had a long road back from a pretty serious injury and to have her back in the side was really great to see,” she said.
“She’s able to impact the game in all three facets, and that’s certainly very handy to have. We are pumped to have her back.”
Captain Nigar Sultana scored 57 for Bangladesh but lacked support. She came to the crease after Brown had reduced Bangladesh to 11 for two in the fourth over and was the mainstay of the innings until the penultimate over when she lofted a catch to cover off off-spinner Ash Gardner.
Nigar hit a six off leg-spinner Alana King and seven fours in a 50-ball innings but none of her teammates could make more than Shorna Akter’s 12 against Australia’s varied attack.
Beth Mooney failed for the second successive match, caught at slip off 18-year-old fast bowler Marufa Akter for two. Alyssa Healy (37) and captain Meg Lanning (48 not out) put on 69 for the second wicket but failed to dominate against dogged Bangladesh bowling and fielding.
Marufa, who took three for 23 against Sri Lanka on Sunday, had another impressive outing, taking one for 18 in her four overs.
It was the first tournament match to be played in Gqeberha and the first of three to be played by Australia in the Eastern Cape city.
