Australia beat England in ICC Women's World Cup by six wickets thanks to brilliant century from Ashleigh Gardner
Updated 22/10/2025 at 18:01 GMT+1
England and Australia were both unbeaten heading into their ICC Women's World Cup group game, but in the end it was Australia who claimed victory by six wickets. England struggled for momentum as they made 244-9, before Australia's Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland showed how it was done. Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals.
'England the inventors of cricket - but we love beating them'
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Australia beat England thanks to brilliant fifth-wicket stand
Australia beat England in their ICC Women’s World Cup group game by six wickets after chasing down their target of 245 with more than nine overs remaining, thanks to a tremendous unbeaten partnership of 180 between Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner.
Gardner made it to triple figures, with Sutherland just running out of time to join her and finishing on 98 not out.
Those two had steadied the ship after four early wickets gave England half a chance despite posting a sub-par total of 244-9 from their 50 overs.
It leaves Australia unbeaten in the group, with both teams having already qualified for the semi-finals.
England were put in to bat by Australia, and their openers made a fast start in the powerplay.
Both Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones regularly found the boundary, with Australia looking lost as the scoreline ticked over.
But then came the inspired bowling change from McGrath, as she brought on Sutherland who immediately found the breakthrough.
From there England found themselves bogged down, particularly by the spin of Alana King who posted very fine figures of 1-20 from her 10 overs.
Wickets fell with regularity, with neither Heather Knight nor Nat Sciver-Brunt able to make much of an impression having been the backbone of England’s middle order all tournament.
But Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean restored some pride late on after Beaumont eventually went to a brilliant boundary catch from Georgia Voll, who had to juggle the ball to avoid the ropes.
England’s total always looked short, but when Lauren Bell got Phoebe Litchfield in the first over, they began to dream.
Three more quick wickets gave England half a chance of a surprise win, but then came the outstanding partnership between Sutherland and Gardner, who both played superbly to see Australia over the line at a canter.
Those two briefly tried to orchestrate the strike to ensure both grabbed their centuries, but in the end Sutherland ran out of steam and finished on 98 not out, leaving Gardner to hit the winning runs and finish on 104 not out.
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Ash Gardner of Australia (R) is congratulated by team mate Tahlia McGrath (C) following victory in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England
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The next matches
India take on New Zealand on Thursday, a must-win for both sides if they want to grab that last semi-final spot.
Australia next play South Africa on Saturday while England take on New Zealand on Monday.
England remain third in table
Sutherland is player of the match
"It was good fun batting with Ashleigh," Sutherland says after the match.
"I was just trying to have some time in the middle, once you got in it was a nice wicket to bat on. I know when I get in, I'll cash in.
"We knew the game would keep moving as it is a hard ground to defend on.
"[Bowling] was nice to get rewarded, the spinners did a great job to stall their momentum.
"[At the end] I was happy for Ash to get it done!"
Australia win by six wickets!
Take a bow Gardner and Sutherland. Both contributed with the ball and the bat tonight.
Gardner hits one over the top to the boundary to finish, Sutherland coming in just short of her century.
Australia finish on 248-4 from 40.3 overs to beat England by six wickets.
Australia 244-4 (40.2 overs) - Gardner 100, Sutherland 98
Ecclestone bowls. Sutherland goes for six! But she doesn't get full hold of it, Knight is running back and tries to take it over her shoulder but spills it.
They run two instead, and then she takes the single to move to 98 with the scores level...
Australia 241-4 (40 overs) - Gardner 100, Sutherland 95
Two off the first ball for Sutherland. She moves to 94. A single takes her to 95.
And that leaves Garner on strike on 96. She swings and it goes to the boundary!
A century for Gardner and she shares a big hug with Sutherland in the middle before removing her helmet and raising her bat.
And she defends! Gardner wants Sutherland to get her century, she is five away and Australia are four away...
Another defensive prod from Gardner.
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Ash Gardner of Australia (L) celebrates her century alongside team mate Annabel Sutherland (R) during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England
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Australia 234-4 (39 overs) - Gardner 96, Sutherland 92
Ecclestone bowls, and Gardner gets in on the act. Four four and suddenly, she overtakes Sutherland. 17 runs for both of them to reach a century, 16 to win.
Make that 15, as Sutherland runs a single. Gardner then edges one for four.
16 runs from the over, 11 to win from 66 balls.
Australia 218-4 (38 overs) - Gardner 81, Sutherland 91
Garner goes aerial! But it lands safe, two fielders converging on it and both coming up just short. That went very, very high.
Bell at least limits these two to singles... Until Sutherland cracks the last ball for four.
Sutherland the favourite to reach her century here.
27 needed from 72.
Australia 209-4 (37 overs) - Gardner 79, Sutherland 85
Smith remains in the attack. Can she stem the flow of runs?
Yes, to an extent.
But the target is coming down too fast, with too many balls to spare.
Asutralia need 36 from 78.
Australia 205-4 (36 overs) - Gardner 77, Sutherland 83
Capsey again. And she goes for... three fours from her first three balls, courtesy of Gardner.
Asutralia want their dinner it seems.
The 200 comes up as well, as Sutherland and Gardner remain in a race to reach three figures first.
Australia 190-4 (35 overs) - Gardner 63, Sutherland 82
Smith is back in the attack. She produced some magic earlier in the innings, but can she produce some more?
No - but at least the run flow halts brielfy. Or slows.
Four from the over, Australia need 55 from 90 balls.
Australia 186-4 (34 overs) - Gardner 61, Sutherland 80
Capsey into the attack now. Will a change help England's fortunes? They need wickets here.
It is a better over, three singles from it and that is drinks.
59 needs from 96 balls.
Australia are cruising.
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Annabel Sutherland of Australia (L) is congratulated by team mate Ash Gardner
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Australia 183-4 (33 overs) - Gardner 60, Sutherland 78
Sciver-Brunt to Gardner. Single.
But then Sciver-Brunt errs too short, and Gardner pulls away for four. That brings up her fifty, and she raises herbat towards the Asutralians in the dug out.
Uh oh - another four. This is expensive.
And Gardner then drives down the ground for four. An expensive over - 14 runs from it.
Australia 169-4 (32 overs) - Gardner 47, Sutherland 77
Ecclestone to Sutherland, and she edges to the boundary. No slip again, as Jones looks on in frustration.
Two singles follow, and England are up against it here to find any way to pressure Australia.
Australia 163-4 (31 overs) - Gardner 46, Sutherland 72
Now the captain is leaking runs. Too short, too wide from Sciver-Brunt and Sutherland pokes that away for four.
Eight from the over, Australia require 82 from 114 balls with six wickets in hand.
Australia 155-4 (30 overs) - Gardner 44, Sutherland 66
This partnership is fast taking the game away fro England.
Ecclestone returns to the attack. But her first ball goes for four. Not an ideal start, Gardner flicking that one away off her toes.
Singles follow, and England really need to tighten things up here.
There is just no pressure in the middle at all.
Australia need 90 runs from 120 balls.
Australia 148-4 (29 overs) - Gardner 38, Sutherland 65
Sciver-Brunt brings herself back into the attack. Can she find the breakthrough - or at least stop the flow of runs?
No, A couple is followd by four singles, including one quick one that was well run.
The last ball goes everywhere but yet nowhere - clipping bat, pad and nearly the wicket. Sciver-Brunt has her hands on her head, Sutherland just smiles.
Australia 142-4 (28 overs) - Gardner 36, Sutherland 61
Back to Dean, who is into her sixth over out there. Can she find the breakthrough?
No, and she leaks a boundary off a thick outside edge - no slip.
These two are looking very well set.
Australia 135-4 (27 overs) - Gardner 31, Sutherland 60
Bell again. But now she has two players in form at the crease to bowl to.
She opens with a wide again as she finds her range, gives away a single and then Sutherland finds the boundary again.
These two look very relaxed at the crease right now.
And another bounary! That over goes for 12, and England won't have many runs to play with soon if they don't get a wicket soon.
Australia 123-4 (26 overs) - Gardner 26, Sutherland 54
Sutherland gets her half century with a beautiful drive for four. That is her first World Cup fifty, as she reaches 52 from 67 balls.
Three singles and a couple follow, as the over goes for nine runs.
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Annabel Sutherland of Australia bats during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England
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Australia 114-4 (25 overs) - Gardner 23, Sutherland 48
Sciver-Brunt wants a breakthrough - Bell is back into the attack. But she opens with a wide.
Apart from that, it is a good over - leaking just two singles.
Halfway through the innings and this feels delicately poised. Another wicket and you'd favour England. If this partnership piles on 20-30 more runs, Australia must be favourites.
The chase is 245.
Australia 111-4 (24 overs) - Gardner 22, Sutherland 47
Smith remains in the attack.
A single opens things up, before Sutherland sweeps for six! A huge, huge strike there, drops to one knee and that one flies 67 metres.
Smith tightens things up a tad, but it is still an expensive over again to undo Dean's good work the previous over. Eleven runs from it.
Australia 100-4 (23 overs) - Gardner 20, Sutherland 38
Dean bowling.
And it is much better than her last effort, tight bowling on a good line and the Aussie batters only get away with three singles there.
Australia 97-4 (22 overs) - Gardner 18, Sutherland 37
Smith comes back into the attack.
And Gardner opens her shoulder and heaves! Dean can't stop it racing to the boundary for four.
The next ball is a three, Bell just about preventing that boundary.
Another expensive over to steady Australia's nerves, nine from it.
Australia 88-4 (21 overs) - Gardner 10, Sutherland 36
Dean again. Better from Sutherland, who opens with a four.
Gardner gets in on the act too, a poor ball from Dean is put away to the boundary.
Expensive over this. Ten from it.
Australia 78-4 (20 overs) - Gardner 5, Sutherland 31
Ecclestone starts her sixth over. And leaks a single from the first ball.
Dot balls follow, and the cameras cut to Sciver-Brunt who looks a little concerned.
One more single follows, two from the over and the pressure is building on the Aussies here.
So, 20 overs gone and after 120 balls, Australia are 78-4.
Australia 76-4 (19 overs) - Gardner 4, Sutherland 30
Dean again. Gardner clips a single off the first ball, and Sutherland gets one from the third.
The last ball also goes for a single. England still in control at the moment.
Australia 73-4 (18 overs) - Gardner 2, Sutherland 29
Ecclestone remains in the attack.
Gardner gets off the mark with a single. There are four of those off the over, which is more than tight enough right now.
Australia 69-4 (17 overs) - Gardner 0, Sutherland 27
Dean comes into the attack.
And she bowls a tight over, Gardner facing four balls there.
Just another reminder than Australia do bat deep, so this is not won yet by England.
Australia 68-4 (16 overs) - Gardner 0, Sutherland 26
No run from the last ball.
Asutralia in all sorts of trouble.
Wicket! Australia 68-4 (15.5 overs) - Mooney 20, Sutherland 26
Four! Too short to Sutherland who leans on her back foot and pulls through midwicket.
But Mooney goes! She went for a pull shot off a short ball and mistimed it. The captain takes the catch, and Australia are four down.
And with that, drinks are taken.
Mooney c Sciver-Brunt b Ecclestone 20 (30)
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Beth Mooney of Australia walks off after being dismissed
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Australia 62-3 (15 overs) - Mooney 19, Sutherland 21
Sciver-Brunt just goes for a couple of singles there, before the last ball tricles away for two runs.
This is tidy from her though.
Australia might not look like losing wickets as they did against Bell, but they certainly are not scoring easily.
Australia 58-3 (14 overs) - Mooney 18, Sutherland 18
Ecclestone leaks a few singles to start her over.
A few? Make that five singles. She had a slim chance of a caught and bowled, but Ecclestone's weight was taking her in the wrong direction. A half chance at best.
Australia 53-3 (13 overs) - Mooney 16, Sutherland 15
Just the two singles from Sciver-Brunt's over there.
And just like in the England innings, the pressure begins to build on Mooney and Sutherland.
Australia 51-3 (12 overs) - Mooney 15, Sutherland 14
Ecclestone from the other end.
It is a tighter start from her. The whole over is better, just the one single from it.
Australia's small resurgence is halted for the time being.
Australia 50-3 (11 overs) - Mooney 14, Sutherland 14
Sciver-Brunt continues.
Three singles and a wide from it.
England started their tournament with a 10 wicket rout of South Africa. They then scraped past an inspired Bangladesh side by four wickets before comprehensively beating Sri Lanka by 89 runs. They were in all sorts of trouble against Pakistan though having been reduced to 133/9, with the rain very much saving their blushes that day when the match was abandoned.
The match against India was a drama-filled tight affair, England winning by four runs with both sides using their full allocation of 50 overs.
After today’s match, England round out the group stage by taking on New Zealand on October 26.
Australia 46-3 (10 overs) - Mooney 12, Sutherland 13
Another bowling change - Ecclestone now on.
Her first ball goes for three after it is missed in the in field, but Dean tracks across to stop the boundary.
Short and wide, and Mooney cuts for four.
But the final ball pins Sutherland on the crease! Umpire shakes her head, but after some debate England review.
Replays show Sutherland did catch the ball with her bat, sending it into her pads. Not out and England lose a review.
Australia 38-3 (9 overs) - Mooney 7, Sutherland 10
A bowling change - Sciver-Brunt bringing herself on.
But she strays a bit short, giving Sutherland the opportunity to lean back and pull one for four.
Six runs from the over.
Australia 32-3 (8 overs) - Mooney 6, Sutherland 5
Smith leaks a boundary, Sutherland with a lovely cover drive for four.
Australia do bat deep, it is worth saying...
Australia 26-3 (7 overs) - Mooney 5, Sutherland 1
Bell is keeping things so, so tight out there. Helped by the ring of fielders, she coughs up just the one single to Mooney.
Australia are stuck at the moment - they need to get the run rate going, but cannot afford to take any risks...
Australia 26-3 (6 overs) - Mooney 4, Sutherland 1
Six overs in, 36 balls and Australia are already three down.
One more wicket and England would definitely be favourites.
As it is, the advantage is with them... Unless these two can put a stand together.
Wicket! Australia 24-3 (5.2 overs) - Mooney 3, Perry 13
Perry goes! Smith gets her trapped on the crease, her bat comes down skewed and she tips that one back to the bowler.
Australia in all kinds of bother now...
Perry c & b Smith 13 (19)
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Linsey Smith of England celebrates with team mate Amy Jones
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Australia 23-2 (5 overs) - Mooney 2, Perry 13
Just the one run from that one, Bell still looking dangerous out there tonight.
The crowd are noisy too, they are liking the drama already.
The majority might be in India shorts, but that isn't stopping them enjoying this one.
Australia 22-2 (4 overs) - Mooney 1, Perry 13
Smith keeps the rest of her over tidy, just the single from it and the wicket,
What a start by England. Australia look shocked at the moment. A rebuild is required.
Small total meets two early wickets?
Game on.
Wicket! Australia 21-2 (3.1 overs) - Voll 6, Perry 13
Voll goes for a slog, drops to a knee and misses! But Smith doesn't the ball clattering into the stumps and Voll forced to walk.
What a start by England.
Voll b Smith 6 (7)
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Georgia Voll of Australia walks off after being dismissed during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England
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Australia 21-1 (3 overs) - Voll 6, Perry 13
Bell bowls a loose one and Perry finds the boundary.
But the rest of the over is tight, until the last bowl slips down leg for a wide.
And the next ball goes for four as well.
Australia 12-1 (2 overs) - Voll 6, Perry 5
Smith is bowling from the other end.
Voll clobbers one back down the ground, even the umpire has to duck out of the way of that one. That goes for a boundary, along with a couple of singles.
Six from the over.
Australia 6-1 (1 over) - Voll 1, Perry 4
Perry gets a boundary from the fourth ball, but that is not the start they wanted.
As for England, the dream start defending a smaller than wanted total.
Wicket! Australia 2-1 (0.3 overs) - Voll 1, Litchfield 1
Bell opens up the bowling.
Litchfield gets a single, as does Voll.
But the third ball is an absolute beauty from Bell, cannoning into off-stump.
Litchfield b Bell 1(2)
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Phoebe Litchfield of Australia is bowled out by Lauren Bell of England
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Almost time for the Australia innings
Right then. The sun has long since set, and the dew will be forming on the out field at some point here.
Can England defend this total?
Australia are chasing 245 to win.
Time to hear from King
"Keep it simple, keep the stumps in play and extract as much spin as possible," says King of her tactics out there.
"Natural variation out of the pitch, if we keep the stumps in play as long as possible, that gives us every chance of every type of dismissal.
"They got off to a flier, we missed our line in the powerplay.
"They probably got away with us a little bit at the back end.
"[Sciver-Brunt] is a special player in any team, so happy to see the back of her!
"Hopefully I can put my feet up…."
She finished with brilliant figures of 1-20 from her 10 overs.
England post 244-9, Australia need 245 to win
England use up their overs then, which at times did not seem likely.
Beaumont top scored with 78, Capsey's 38 from 32 balls and Dean's 26 from 27 proved very handy, as England have a score to defend at least.
Three wickets for Sutherland, two for Molineux, two for Garner and one for King.
England 244-9 (50 overs) - Bell 2, Ecclestone 10
Bell gets one away for a single. But thanks to Dean and Capsey, this total is better than they might have hoped for at stages.
Last ball to Ecclestone, she has a big slog and picks up four!
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Annabel Sutherland and Megan Schutt of Australia celebrate as they leave the field at the end of the first innings
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Wicket! England 236-9 (49.1 overs) - Smith 3, Ecclestone 5
Molineux to bowl the final over.
Oh no. No no no no no.
Smith is on strike and clubs the ball away. They run one, a second is called for, she gets halfway down the crease and is sent back!
The throw is is wide but Molineux has time to take it and throws down the stumps.
Smith run out (Voll/Molineux) 3 (3)
England 235-8 (49 overs) - Smith 2, Ecclestone 5
Two new batters at the crease. Australia in control. Work to do and the overs running out.
Garner is bowling, and these two manage to scamper a few singles. Then comes a wide, a dot ball and then Ecclestone manages a lovely four.
Wicket! England 227-8 (48.1 overs) - Dean 26, Ecclestone 0
Dean goes for it off Garner, and is caught first ball. Down at cover, after an ugly swipe.
Dean c Litchfield b Gardner 26 (27)
England 227-7 (48 overs) - Dean 26, Ecclestone 0
England might make 230, but any further will rely on Dean here who is in form.
Molineux has 2-44 from her nine overs.
Wicket! England 227-7 (47.5 overs) - Dean 26, Capsey 38
Four singles, and then Molineux strikes! It is Capsey down on one knee who misses and the ball clatters her pads.
She is given, but reviews and why not this late in the innings.
No edge... impact in line, wicket hitting... And Capsey goes. Crucial breakthrough for Australia.
Capsey lbw b Molineux 38 (32)
England 223-6 (47 overs) - Dean 24, Capsey 36
Sutherland is into her last over.
Single, single, four! These two are putting on some really valuable runs here.
Another single, and a four!
Absolutely crucial runs. Dean sets herself and scoops the ball away.
The run rate is creeping back towards five.
England 212-6 (46 overs) - Dean 19, Capsey 30
Molineux continues as McGarth continues with spin from one end.
Four singles to open the over, and the Capsey sweeps one fine. Does she get any bat on it or is it leg byes? No, umpire says bat.
A single from the last, nine from it. Score board ticking along again.
England 203-6 (45 overs) - Dean 17, Capsey 23
Sutherland has lost her range again. Two fours open up the over from Capsey, and Sutherland suddenly looks a little rattled.
A single from the last ball after Sutherland regains some control, and ENgland pass the 200-mark.
England 194-6 (44 overs) - Dean 17, Capsey 14
Garner to Dean.
These two are keeping busy, singles and a two from that one as the strike gets rotated.
But England need boundaries - this total still looks light.
England 190-6 (43 overs) - Dean 14, Capsey 13
Sutherland in the attack.
Dean gets a four from a bouncer.
And Capsey finds the boundary. Along the ground too, no risk, lovely shot.
Better from England, as Suherland has a surprisingly loose over there.
England 179-6 (42 overs) - Dean 9, Capsey 7
Garner starts her seventh over.
And there are seven runs from it as England finally find the boundary again.
What can these two rescue here?
England 172-6 (41 overs) - Dean 3, Capsey 6
King's final over - much to England's relief.
King finishes with 1-20 from her 10 overs.
What a spell. What a bowler.
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Alana King of Australia
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England 168-6 (40 overs) - Dean 1, Capsey 4
Australia on top here.
England with two new batters, and a creaking run rate.
Wicket! England 166-6 (39.1 overs) - Dunkley 22, Capsey 3
Dunkley goes! She knew she had to try, she comes down the wicket, the ball moves, she misses it and is stumped!
She turned and threw herself back towards the crease but it was too late.
Dunkley st Mooney b Gardner 22 (48)
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Beth Mooney of Australia celebrates after stumping and dismissing Sophia Dunkley of England
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England 166-5 (39 overs) - Dunkley 22, Capsey 3
King replaces Sutherland.
One single from the third ball, and another. Then the sixth ball England go for a quick single.
Mooney is shouting for the ball to go to the keeper's end, and she collects but... Capsey is safe.
England 163-5 (38 overs) - Dunkley 20, Capsey 2
Dunkley grabs a single off Molineux's second ball, leaving her new partner to face the strike. That Capsey does well, and picks up two at the end of the over to get off the mark.
Wicket! England 160-5 (37 overs) - Dunkley 19, Lamb 7
Sutherland continues this second spell of hers.
Dunkley looks far more comfortable against the pace of the Aussie and gets a few away for singles and one two.
But the last single puts Lamb on strike and she gets bowled! The ball swings back slightly, and Lamb's defenses do not hold.
England in all sorts of bother now.
Lamb b Sutherland 7 (10)
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Annabel Sutherland of Australia celebrates with team mate Beth Mooney after taking the wicket of Emma Lamb
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England 154-4 (36 overs) - Dunkley 15, Lamb 6
Molineux continues.
And the 150 comes up, courtesy of a Dunkley single.
Lamb then needles one down the off-side toe fine leg, and it trickles to the boundary.
England 148-4 (35 overs) - Dunkley 14, Lamb 1
This is a big ask now for England's middle order.
Wicket! England 147-4 (34.4 overs) - Dunkley 14, Beaumont 78
Chance! Toe end of the bat, into the air from Beaumont and McGrath can't quite reach it. She does save the boundary though.
Beaumont clearly wants to get after the quicks, since spin is hard to get away.
The next ball misses everything and everyone, Mooney immediately apologising.
And then Beaumont goes for it! All the way to the boundary, but just short. Voll takes it, realises she is going to step over, and throws it up and takes it again. Neat fielding, and the anchor of England's innings has to go.
Big, big wicket.
Beaumont c Voll b Sutherland 78 (105)
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Tammy Beaumont of England walks off after being dismissed during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England
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England 141-3 (34 overs) - Dunkley 14, Beaumont 72
Molineux bowls her fifth over of the innings.
And it is full of singles as the strike gets rotated. Two apiece, as these two chug on.
England 137-3 (33 overs) - Dunkley 12, Beaumont 70
Sutherland is back in the attack.
And she leaks a couple of singles.
Just what sort of total can England make here? Their batting has creaked in the middle of most of their innings, against the spin.
230 you have to think is the minimum they want.
England 135-3 (32 overs) - Dunkley 11, Beaumont 69
Gardner continues.
A two and a single, England starting to rotate the strike again.
Anotehr single, and Beamont then drives the last ball hard but it is stopped short of the boundary for yet another single.
Five runs from it, but England need more than that.
England 130-3 (31 overs) - Dunkley 10, Beaumont 65
King again.
Dunkley calls for a quick single. Beaumont needs to go here and she does, diving from a long way out. Mooney dropped the ball anyway, but that dive was needed.
This is quite the over. The second ball beats Beaumont, and the third makes a sound as Mooney collects. Edge? The umpire says no, Australia review!
Ultra edge shows nothing, and Beaumont survives.
And the next ball Beaumont seems to edge over the keeper. Given as byes. This ball is starting to really turn now.
Beaumont gets off strike, much to her relief. What an over from King.
England 124-3 (30 overs) - Dunkley 9, Beaumont 64
Gardner again.
A few more from this one, a few singles, a two and a wide.
But still Egland are being stifled and cannot find that boundary...
England 118-3 (29 overs) - Dunkley 7, Beaumont 61
Better from Beaumont. She gets down for a paddle sweep and ends up with more of a ramp shot, but she gets the ball away safely - although it dribbles too slowly to make the boundary.
A chance at the end of lbw - King likes it but the umpire says no and Australia opt not to review.
Beaumont survives.
England 116-3 (28 overs) - Dunkley 7, Beaumont 59
Dunkley gets off strike against Gardner with the second ball, putting the pressure back onto Beaumont to get something going here.
But she can only pick up another single.
It has been awhile since the last boundary now...
England 114-3 (27 overs) - Dunkley 6, Beaumont 58
King again, who has been so stingy out there today, which is exactly what her captain hoped for.
And it is another tight over, just two runs from it.
Australia on top at the moment.
England 112-3 (26 overs) - Dunkley 5, Beaumont 57
Garner remains in the attack.
Just singles from the over, four of them.
But two dot balls and that is what is creating pressure out there. The run rate is 4.31 at the moment.
England 108-3 (25 overs) - Dunkley 3, Beaumont 55
Halfway through, as King leaks just the one run.
So, England made that strong start but they really have been pegged back here.
The pressure is very much mounting...
England 107-3 (24 overs) - Dunkley 2, Beaumont 55
Gardner is into the attack for Australia.
And she opens with a very tidy over, just the one run from it.
England very much in a rebuilding phase here, even Beaumont has quietened down for the moment.
England 106-3 (23 overs) - Dunkley 1, Beaumont 55
Dunkley is the new batter at the crease. She gets a single to get going, as King bowls another tight over.
Beaumont has an important role to play here, she really needs to anchor this innings even more.
Wicket! England 105-3 (22.2 overs) - Sciver-Brunt 7, Beaumont 54
King gets her target! Sciver-Brunt tries to go over the top from King, the ball doesn't come off the bat cleanly and Sciver-Brunt is caught at mid-off!
Sciver-Brunt c Sutherland b King 7 (14)
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Alana King of Australia celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt of England
Image credit: Getty Images
England 104-2 (22 overs) - Sciver-Brunt 7, Beaumont 54
The hundred comes up for England courtesy of the captain, who runs two.
She hits a boudary off the last ball too, as the scoreline continues to tick over.
England 98-2 (21 overs) - Sciver-Brunt 1, Beaumont 54
A swift maiden over from King keeps things tight...
England 98-2 (20 overs) - Sciver-Brunt 1, Beaumont 54
Beaumont grabs four from Garth, who has been brought back into the attack.
And that gets her to her fifty. Bat raised, she sits on 52 from 59 balls and is the anchor of this innings.
Sciver-Brunt gets off the mark as the two batters exchnage singles.
England 91-2 (19 overs) - Sciver-Brunt 0, Beaumont 48
King now has a new quarry to bowl at - the England captain.
Beaumont is on strik and picks off a single, leaving Sciver-Brunt to face four balls. Which she does with zero issues.
England back in a rebuilding phase of this innings.
Wicket! England 90-2 (17.5 overs) - Knight 20, Beaumont 47
Molineux to Knight.
Three dot balls, pressure building... but not for someone as good against spin as Knight.
She takes a couple of strides forward and goes aeriel over mid-off for four.
But the next ball is close! Not given, Australia review for lbw....
And ball tracking technology shows it is hitting! The umpire has to change their decision.
Knight lbw b Molineux 20 (27)
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Sophie Molineux of Australia (4th R) celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Heather Knight of England
Image credit: Getty Images
England 86-1 (17 overs) - Knight 16, Beaumont 47
King is into the attack - one of Australia's crucial bowlers, and a sign that they know they need a breakthrough.
Three singles from a tidy over, as Beaumont edges closer to her half century.
Drinks break
England's openers made a fast start. But at 55-0, Australia changed their attack, bringing in Sutherland who picked off Amy Jones with a beautiful delivery.
Since then, Beaumont has continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and Knight has now played herself in too.
So, Australia are back to needing a breakthrough...
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Annabel Sutherland of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Amy Jones of England
Image credit: Getty Images
England 83-1 (16 overs) - Knight 14, Beaumont 46
Molineux remains in the attac, Australia sticking with some slow stuff.
And Knight hoists off over mid wicket for four.
The wicket looks flat, but this is still a good showing from the batters.
And it is time for drinks.
England 77-1 (15 overs) - Knight 9, Beaumont 45
Sutherland continues.
Two singles from the first two balls, and a third.
But then Beaumont stands still, heaves her arms and crashes one over the top of mid-on. It goes for four, and a quick single off the last ball makes that a strong over for England.
England 69-1 (14 overs) - Knight 7, Beaumont 39
Molineux to Knight.
Just a couple of singles from the over, one from each batter.
Asutralia are starting to strangle this run rate.
England 67-1 (13 overs) - Knight 6, Beaumont 38
Sutherland has figures of 1-1 from her two overs, with one maiden.
There's a little chatter between Sutherland and Beaumont, with the latter still grinning - she is clearly taking the banter in good form.
A singple puts Knight back on strike, and she edges! But it is just wide of the keeper, Mooney with a dispairing dive. That would have gone right to first slip - if there was one.
That boundary adds to Knight's tally.
England 62-1 (12 overs) - Knight 2, Beaumont 37
Molineux is into the attack, as Australia turn to spin.
Knight gets another single, and the Beaumont uses her feet to dance down the wicket and find the boundary.
She picks up a single, to get the scoreboard ticking over again. And maintains the strike too.
England 56-1 (11 overs) - Knight 1, Beaumont 32
Sutherland again, and it is another tidy over. Knight cannot get the ball away, settling for a single.
The powerplay has concluded as well, so the field is now more spread too.
This one too tight to call - England did have the advantage, but that wicket has evened things out.
England 55-1 (10 overs) - Knight 0, Beaumont 32
Former captain Knight is next in, and she has been on good form in this tournament - in fact, she has held together many an innings so far along with Sciver-Brunt.
But she has the joy of coming to the crease with England in a handy position.
Garth remains in the attack, and it is a maiden for her. This is a good comeback by Australia.
Wicket! England 55-1 (9 overs) - Jones 18, Beaumont 32
The breakthrough!
Sutherland into the attack. It was a tidy over, five dot balls before the wicket.
Jones goes for 18 after being bowled by a beauty - tiny bit of swing was enough there to get through her defenses and flick the top of off.
Jones b Sutherland 18 (26)
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Amy Jones of England walks off after being dismissed during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England
Image credit: Getty Images
England 55-0 (8 overs) - Jones 18, Beaumont 32
What a start this is by England!
Garth loses her accuracy and Beaumont hits the first three balls for four. She is beaming at the crease, sharing a laugh with jones between the wickets as the Aussie fielders retreive the ball.
Garth rescues the over with three dot balls, but the damage is done...
England 43-0 (7 overs) - Jones 18, Beaumont 20
Still no bowling change, even though Australia need a breakthrough with both batters very much in.
Two singles from it, and still no wickets.
England ticking along nicely here.
England 41-0 (6 overs) - Jones 18, Beaumont 17
Garth remains in the attack.
A couple of singles from theover, until Beaumont crunches another four.
Both atters seeing the ball really well out there.
England 35-0 (5 overs) - Jones 16, Beaumont 14
Jones gets involved! The second ball of the over from Schutt is short, wide and punished. Four runs.
The fifth ball is cut through the cover region for four and now the last ball goes to the boundary as well.
Everytime Australia build some pressure, Enland fight back. 12 from the over.
England 23-0 (4 overs) - Jones 4, Beaumont 14
Much, much better from Garth who has found her length now.
A maiden over and suddenly Australia have this one back under control.
England lost to Australia 16-0 earlier this year - which led to a full scale review of what had gone wrong. Jon Lewis went as coach, with Charlotte Edwards coming in in his place while Nat Sciver-Brunt took over from Heather Knight as captain.
So while on paper there is not too much at stake today in terms of the group standings, bar the ability to top the group and potentially have an easier semi-final, there is a lot of pride at stake in this result.
England 23-0 (3 overs) - Jones 4, Beaumont 14
Jones picks up two off the first ball.
And those are the only runs from the over, Schutt getting things back under control for Australia.
England 21-0 (2 overs) - Jones 2, Beaumont 14
Garth is bowling the next over for Australia.
But her second ball is a no ball, and now England have a free hit. And Beaumont takes advantage with a six! What a start this is for England. Straight down the ground and clears the boundary with ease.
Beaumont then drives to the boundary for another four. There is an appeal off the last ball, Australia think about it and don't review. It came off the pads and ran away for another boundary.
Expensive over.
England 5-0 (1 over) - Jones 1, Beaumont 4
Schutt is opening the bowling for Australia.
Beamont hits her first ball for four, after Jones picks up a single. It was a glorious shot, taking advantage of one that was too short from Schutt.
Four dots follow, and England are up and running here.
The table
Today’s match comes from the Holkar Stadium in Indore, so the same venue where England beat the hosts India last time out in a tight encounter by just four runs. England sit third in the standings at the moment, tied on points with Australia but behind on net run rate. South Africa are on top, having played one more game.
Behind, it is very tight for the final semi-final spot, with India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka all tied on points.
The teams for today's match
Australia:
Georgia Voll
Phoebe Litchfield
Ellyse Perry,
Beth Mooney (wk)
Annabel Sutherland
Ashleigh Gardner
Tahlia McGrath (capt)
Sophie Molineux
Alana King
Kim Garth
Megan Schutt
England:
Tammy Beaumont
Amy Jones (wk)
Heather Knight
Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt)
Sophia Dunkley
Emma Lamb
Alice Capsey
Charlie Dean
Sophie Ecclestone
Linsey Smith
Lauren Bell
The toss
Australia have won the toss and elected to field. No changes for England, but Australia are without their captain, Alyssa Healy. In her place, Tahlia McGrath captains the side.
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Tahlia McGrath of Australia and Nat Sciver-Brunt of England look on at the coin toss prior to the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between Australia and England at Holkar Cricket Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to live coverage of England's group game against Australia in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. Both sides are unbeaten, both have already qualified for the semi-finals, so this one is for pride as much as points...
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Watch and stream the 2025 men’s Ashes series live on TNT Sports and discovery+. TNT Sports will also show England’s white-ball tours of New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
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