Australia thump Bangladesh to seal semifinal spot

Australia booked their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 with a commanding 10-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday. Chasing 199 after Bangladesh had won the toss and decided to bat first, Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield made the task look easy, reaching the target in under 25 overs.

The victory took Australia to the top of the World Cup table with nine points from five matches while defending champions Bangladesh remained sixth with two points from five games.

The opening pair gave Australia a rapid start and built a solid 100-run partnership that Bangladesh could not break. Healy was outstanding, scoring 113 off 77 balls, her second century of the tournament, while hitting 20 boundaries. Litchfield (84) provided strong support at the other end, finishing with an innings that included 12 fours and a six.

In the first innings, Sobhana Mostary played a valiant knock to guide Bangladesh to 198/9 in their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup clash against Australia. The batter remained unbeaten on 66 off 80 balls, striking nine boundaries and adding valuable runs in the death overs with 28 coming in the final three overs to push her side close to the 200-mark.

Rubya Haider (44) also chipped in with a crucial knock after the openers had provided a steady start but Nigar Sultana Joty's side struggled to build momentum against Australia's spin attack. Alana King (2/18) and Georgia Wareham (2/22) were effective with the ball and picked up two wickets apiece while Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland also claimed two each though they proved a touch expensive. Megan Schutt added a wicket to her name as Australia kept Bangladesh in check despite Mostary's resistance.

Schutt gave Australia the first breakthrough, removing Farzana Haque after the openers had given Bangladesh a steady start.

Gardner then struck twice in quick succession to leave Bangladesh three down, also claiming the important wicket of Haider, who had put on a 41-run stand with Sharmin Akter for the second wicket. Gardner also dismissed Akter soon after.

Alana King joined in as Australia's bowlers continued to tighten their grip. Nigar Sultana Joty was stumped while trying to hit King down the ground before Beth Mooney took a sharp catch at point to dismiss Shorna Akter off King's bowling.

Sutherland and Wareham maintained the pressure, cleaning up the middle and lower order by sharing the final four wickets between them.

However, Mostary carried on with her fine innings and brought up her fifty, receiving steady support from Fariha Trisna at the other end as Bangladesh reached a competitive total, having been 165/9 at the end of 46 overs. This was the first time Australia failed to bowl out an opponent in the ongoing tournament.

While Australia have remained unbeaten so far in the tournament, Bangladesh are looking to bounce back after the solitary win against Pakistan in their opening game.

Alyssa Healy's Australia chased down a record total against hosts India at the same venue, apart from their wins against New Zealand and Pakistan, with the Sri Lanka match resulting in a washout.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, started their campaign with a win against Pakistan while losing to England and New Zealand, followed by a close defeat against South Africa.

Sobhana fifty guides Tigresses to 198-9 against Australia 

Middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary notched up her second ODI fifty to guide the Tigresses to 198-9 in against Australia in the ICC Women's World Cup in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

After coming on to bat in the 22nd over, Sobhana put away nine fours for an unbeaten 80-ball 66 -- a career-best -- to follow up her maiden half-century in the format against New Zealand earlier in the tournament. The right-hander kept motoring on from her end as wickets tumbled at the other. This propelled the Tigresses to their highest score against Australia -- surpassing the 135-6 in Wellington in 2022.

Earlier, opener Rubaiya Haider Jhelik smashed eight fours in a 59-ball 44 and Sharmin Akter scored a 33-ball 19 after the Tigresses opted to bat. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty's poor run in the tournament continued as she departed after a 34-ball 12. No other batter could reach double figures. 

For Australia, Alana King, Georgia Wareham, and Annabel Sutherland scalped two wickets each.  

No Marufa, Nahida as Bangladesh bat first against Australia

Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first against defending champions Australia in their fifth group-stage match in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India on Thursday.

The Tigresses have left out star pacer Marufa Akter and spinner Nahida Akter for the match. Fariha Islam Trishna and Nishita Akter Nishi will replace them. 

Bangladesh put up a good fight against South Africa in their last game, but eventually lost by three wickets.

With just one win in four games, Nigar and Co are placed sixth in the eight-team table.

Australia, on the other hand, are unbeaten so far in the tournament, having won three games and their match against Sri Lanka getting abandoned by rain without a ball being bowled.

The defending champions are second in the points-table and are well on their way to securing a place in the knockout phase.

Bangladesh have played Australia in an ODI only four times before, and are yet to win.

Bangladesh Women (Playing XI): Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nishita Akter Nishi, Fariha Trisna

Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown