Australia Triumphs Over England by 33 Runs in Womens T20 World Cup Warmup Match | AUS W vs ENG

Australia showed their intent to defend their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup crown with a confident 33-run win over England in their warm-up match at the ICC Academy in Dubai. A strong performance by opener Beth Mooney and all-round excellence by Tahlia McGrath helped Australia come out on top against their arch-rivals.

Mooney's Brilliance Sets the Tone

Having been put into bat first, Australia got off to a strong start thanks to Beth Mooney, who took charge of the innings with an aggressive half-century. Mooney smashed 50 runs off just 30 balls, providing a perfect foundation for the Australian batting lineup. Despite early dismissals of Alyssa Healy (12) and Ellyse Perry (7), Mooney kept the scoreboard ticking, forming an important partnership of 50 runs with Ashleigh Gardner, who contributed 21.

England's bowlers tried to contain the Australian batting effort, with Lauren Bell impressing the most, taking two key wickets for 29 runs. Charlie Dean also bowled economically, claiming 1/16, including the crucial dismissal of Gardner.

Middle Order Pushes Australia to a Competitive Total

Following Mooney's departure, Tahlia McGrath played a pivotal role in ensuring Australia put up a challenging score. McGrath scored a quick 31, and Georgia Wareham's unbeaten 18 towards the end added valuable runs, allowing Australia to finish their innings at 162/6 in their 20 overs.

England's Response Falters Under Pressure

Chasing 163 for victory, England began with plenty of intent, led by Maia Bouchier, who made a brisk 17 before being caught behind off the bowling of Darcie Brown. Alice Capsey was the standout performer for England, showcasing her skill with a well-made 40 off 34 balls. However, England struggled to build partnerships as wickets continued to tumble at crucial moments.

Tahlia McGrath was exceptional with the ball, taking three wickets for just 18 runs, including the prized wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt. Her performance was well supported by Sophie Molineux, who took 2/27, as Australia bowled England out for 129 in 19.4 overs, sealing a comfortable 33-run win.

Scorecard Summary

Australia Innings: 162/6 in 20 overs
- Beth Mooney: 50 (30 balls)  
- Tahlia McGrath: 31 (21 balls)  
- Georgia Wareham: 18* (12 balls)  
- Lauren Bell: 2/29  
- Charlie Dean: 1/16  

England Innings: 129 all out in 19.4 overs 
- Alice Capsey: 40 (34 balls)  
- Maia Bouchier: 17 (12 balls)  
- Tahlia McGrath: 3/18  
- Sophie Molineux: 2/27  

Result: Australia won by 33 runs.

Key Takeaways

Australia's warm-up victory will serve as a significant morale booster as they head into the main tournament, aiming for their fourth consecutive title. Beth Mooney's aggressive batting and Tahlia McGrath's all-round performance were the highlights of the match, while England will need to focus on building partnerships and stabilizing their middle order if they hope to challenge the defending champions in the upcoming matches.