BAN-W vs AUS-W: Australia beat Bangladesh by 10 wickets in first T20

The Australian women’s cricket team began its three-match T20I series against Bangladesh on a winning note after beating the hosts by 10 wickets in the first match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Sunday.

Captain Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney led an unbeaten run-chase to secure a comprehensive victory on foreign soil. Healy won the player of the match award for her innings of 65* (42).

“Pretty happy with that ... we gave ourselves a target of getting that as clinically as we could and I thought Moons and I went the right way about it, nice and positive,” Healy said.

“Our bowlers did a terrific job… It was a decent enough total (to chase) but we've got a really deep batting line-up so we're going to challenge ourselves to put a big total out there or chase them down.”

Having won the toss, the Bangladesh women’s cricket team decided to bat first. Things began on an ominous note for the hosts who lost opener Dilara Akter off the very first ball bowled by Sophie Molineux and Australia soon made it 2/2 in the second over when Tayla Vlaeminck picked a wicket on her return to the Australian national team in four years.

Murshida Khatun and captain Nigar Sultana put on a 57-run partnership to rescue Bangladesh from immediate danger but Khatun had to depart after scoring 20 (27).

Sultana would go on to complete her half-century and put on another strong stand with Fahima Khatun. The Bangladesh captain finished as their top-scorer with 62* (64) while Fahima scored 27 (21) before being bowled by Molineux.

Despite the partnerships shared by Sultana, Bangladesh couldn’t increase their scoring rate and had to settle for a score of 126/4. Sophie Molineux picked up two wickets for 25 runs for Australia while Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham proved to be economical.

The run-chase proved to be light work for veterans Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney. While Healy finished as the top scorer with 65, Mooney also remained not out on 55 in 36 balls.

Healy smashed nine boundaries and a six while Mooney joined the act with another nine boundaries to complete a comfortable victory.

Australia Women will take on Bangladesh Women in the second T20I at the same venue on Tuesday.

BAN-W vs AUS-W 1st T20 brief scores: Bangladesh-W 126/4 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 62*, Fahima Khatun 27; Sophie Molineux 2/25) lost to Australia-W 127/4 in 13 overs (Alyssa Healy 65*, Beth Mooney 55*) by 10 wickets.