BAN W VS AUS W MATCH 17

Right then, with this win, Australia Women have secured a spot for the play-offs. However, on the other hand, Bangladesh Women have faced their fourth defeat in this campaign. Up next in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025, South Africa Women will take on Sri Lanka Women on 17th October, Friday, at 9.30 am GMT at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Don't forget to tune in early for all the pre-match build-up. Until then, stay safe and goodbye!

Alyssa Healy, the skipper of Australia Women, reflected on the win, acknowledging Bangladesh's resilience with the bat and taking responsibility for her own performance behind the stumps, which she felt wasn't up to par. However, she was thrilled with Alana King's dominant bowling, saying she made everyone look a bit silly at times. Healy also praised the contributions of Georgia Wareham and Darcie Brown, emphasizing that selections are based on merit. She was impressed with Phoebe Litchfield's batting, saying she takes pressure off her and boosts her confidence. Looking ahead to matches against England and South Africa, Healy emphasized the team's focus on professionalism and being clinical in big tournaments.

Nigar Sultana Joty, skipper of Bangladesh Women, says that they got off to a solid start, losing just one wicket in the powerplay, but they lost their way as the wickets tumbled. Continues that they missed their strike bowlers and need to work on that for the upcoming matches. Adds that it was a tough day for their bowlers, who've been performing well for them recently. Ends up saying that they will be bouncing back and make a comeback after learning from these mistakes.

ALANA KING IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. King is thrilled with her performance, emphasizing the crucial role of discipline and spin in the game. After being exploited in the last match, she focused on leveraging her strengths. King commended her team's unity and support, noting that when one teammate struggles, others step in to compensate. She's now looking forward to the challenges ahead, including showdowns against England and South Africa in the Women's ODI World Cup.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the inning, after winning the toss, Bangladesh Women elected to bat first. They started their inning slowly, but Aussie bowlers kept attacking the batters. Eventually, after all the dot deliveries, the pressure piled up, and they gave away their wickets trying to go big. Rubya Haider in the top order did quite well after getting numerous lifelines and scored 44 runs. Later in the inning, Sobhana Mostary filled the shoes and batted till the end of the inning to contribute 66 important runs for her side.

The opening batters took a few overs to assess the bowlers' line and length, but once they found their rhythm, they unleashed a flurry of boundaries that kept the scoreboard ticking relentlessly to chase down the target. On the other hand, the performance of Bangladesh Women's bowling attack left much to be desired.  The target their batting order set on the board seemed commendable, but not against the mighty batting line-up of Australia. Also, Bangladesh's struggles kept flowing because of the misfields, which handed the Australian players unnecessary opportunities to seize more control of the match.

AUSTRALIA WOMEN HAVE PAVED THEIR WAY TO THE SEMI-FINALS. They beat Bangladesh Women by a margin of 10 wickets, and the happy faces of the players tells that they are really happy to get the result. The dynamic opening duo, Phoebe Litchfield and skipper Alyssa Healy, set the stage ablaze with a powerful start, forging a formidable partnership that no Bangladesh bowlers were able to break. Hands down to the knock of Alyssa Healy for scoring consecutive centuries in this World Cup campaign, one against India Women, and now against Bangladesh. Credits to Phoebe Litchfield, who also scored a hefty 84 runs and stayed upright till the end of the inning with her skipper.

FOUR! If this is not dominance, then what is? Australia Women chase 199 without losing a wicket and even before the completion of the 25th over. On a length around off, Phoebe Litchfield moves a bit to her leg and drives this past the mid off fielder to her left for four runs to seal the game without losing any wicket.

FOUR! Phoebe does what Phoebe does best and that's to find the gap and get a boundary. Pitched up on off, Phoebe Litchfield smashes this down the ground towards the sight screen for a boundary. SCORES ARE LEVEL!

Full and wide outside off, Phoebe Litchfield goes for the reverse to have some fun but misses out.

Yorker on off, Alyssa Healy rolls this to cover for one.

On a length wide of off, Phoebe Litchfield chips this to deep cover for one.

FOUR! Too easy for a player of Alyssa Healy's class. Pitched up on off, Alyssa Healy stays leg side to it and slices this up and over the point fielder for third consecutive boundary.

FOUR! And another boundary. Back of a length around middle and leg, Alyssa Healy once again backs away and creates a bit of room. Slaps this over cover for four more runs.

FOUR! Toying around is Healy now. Good length wide of off, Alyssa Healy moves to her leg, creates the room to free her arms and lofts this up and over the ring of fielders on off for four more runs.

Good length on the pads, Phoebe Litchfield flicks this to long on for one.