Mooney fifty helps stumbling Australia over the line
Bangladesh had earlier been limited to 135 after rain reduced the contest to 43 overs a side
Bangladesh had earlier been limited to 135 after rain reduced the contest to 43 overs a side
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Srivathsa Vennelaganti
That brings an end to proceedings from Wellington. Thanks for the feedback and do check out all the analysis and reaction from today's game including the match report. We will be there tomorrow as New Zealand finish off against Pakistan at Christchurch. Until then on behalf of Ekanth - who is busy resting after a long first innings - and our scorer Vairavan, signing off from here. Take care and be well. Enjoy.
Meg Lanning: I think so, certainly the conditions were the hardest I have played in. It was freezing cold. Today was about finding a way through it and win. Bangladesh played really well and put us under pressure. It was a positive performance from Mooney and Sutherland to take us over the line at the end. It was about how dark it was, if Darcie Brown was bowling at that time, it would've been hard to see. To be able to find a way with the bat, Annabel Sutherland a young player to come in and play under pressure to get us home was really important. To be able to work our way through that was pretty impressive and we will take that win. I'm not sure, it is a bit cold and windy, not sure if anyone wants to come to the birthday party. I might be pretty quiet but it's nice to get to the end of the group stage playing good cricket, we will rest for a couple of days and then look forward to the semis.
Nigar Sultana Joty: Today's achievement, at least we could give a tough time to the Australians. All the credit goes to the bowlers and fielders. We need to work on our batting, we were 30-40 runs short. When I started with Jahanara, the wind was there, she found it difficult to run. Salma bowled really well today, it was her show and I'm really proud of her. I said that - If we could do well here, maybe we could give them a tough time. It was difficult, the outfielders could not see the ball, it was too dark and every ball I need to change the fielders for the righty and lefty. We played our first match here and we will take a lot of positives from today and implement it against England.
Mooney: It was really tough, we were discussing it out there, certainly we wouldn't have bowled Darcie if we were out there. They bowled extremely well and put us under the pump. Learning on the job in this case, we have played them in the T20 World Cup in 2020, we had a little bit of intel [intelligence]. They are quite versatile as well, their leggies bowl a bit of offies as well which is difficult for a left-hander. Little bit of analysis on their bowlers helped. Adapting to the situation in front of me, Rachael and I talk about it all the time, real challenge batting at 4 and 5 whereas opening you know what you will get. It is difficult at times, but thankfully I'm playing in this Australian team which is pretty elite - I don't have to do a whole lot at the end. She is an intelligent cricketer in her own right [on Sutherland]. She read the game and played accordingly. She has got the skill set to play in this Australian team for a long time. Honestly she could play as a batter or a bowler here. She is progressing nicely.
Beth Mooney is the Player of the Match.
Kapil Baldawa: "Well played BD. 30 more runs and may be those dropped catches being held, today could have been a day to remember for these girls"
Naim Noor Arnob: "Bangladeshi women have shown great determination, fight and character throughout the whole tournament. They should be given more respect in the country and provided better facilities. With more good things to come from them in the future."
Browly: "Pick any team in any sport in the world and I reckon they'd want a player like Mooney in their squad. The text book definition of a champion. "
George: "England, be afraid. Be very much afraid. If Bangladesh can do this to Australia, they can do it to England as well and England today aren't in the same form as Australia!"
6.35pm: The Bangladeshi players congratulate Mooney and a couple of them have a word with her. Once again it is the nerveless ice-cool Mooney who has steered her side home in a chase. Terrific effort from Bangladesh in trying to defend 135. Salma Khatun set the tone with 3 wickets up top including a ripper to get Lanning out for a duck. Australia soon found themselves 70/5 but Mooney and Sutherland steered the ship safely to the shore. Just played the ball on its merit and finished the game with an unbeaten 66-run stand. Credit to the umpires too for letting the match finish as it was very dark at the Basin with the streetlights on outside the venue. So Australia end the group stage unbeaten and reassert their credentials as firm favorites. Bangladesh though did themselves no harm with a spirited show, especially with the ball. Stay tuned for the presentation...
Australia batter also says "that kind of pressure thrown out at us leading into the semi-finals is absolutely critical for this group"
Bangladesh had earlier been limited to 135 after rain reduced the contest to 43 overs a side