Australia's opening T20I victory against the West Indies highlighted both resilience and room for improvement as the team navigated a challenging start to their tour. Despite a slow powerplay and six dropped catches, Beth Mooney emerged as the standout performer, scoring 79 off 55 balls to anchor Australia's innings. The team struggled at 2-57 after 10 overs but turned the tide with a dramatic 84-run partnership between Mooney and Ellyse Perry in the next seven overs. However, the momentum faded after both batters were dismissed, leaving Australia to add just 23 runs in the final three overs. Mooney acknowledged the difficulties of adapting to the Arnos Vale Stadium conditions, where the ball skidded unpredictably early in the innings. "It was tough to get started," she said, noting the challenges posed by the newer ball and the pace of the pitch. While she praised the team's ability to regroup after the drinks break, she suggested an earlier adjustment might have been beneficial. "Ideally, you'd like to get off to a quick start in T20 cricket, but sometimes the conditions don't allow that," she explained. "We did a good job adjusting at the 10th over, but maybe we could have gotten it right a little earlier." The team's fielding was equally mixed, with Alana King's return to T20Is shining through her 3-14 performance. However, six dropped catches marred the innings, though Mooney downplayed their impact. "Dropped catches can be contagious, but we're human and these things happen," she said. "They didn’t cost us the game, so we’re happy with the result." The match also marked a significant moment for new captain Sophie Molineux, who returned from a back injury to lead Australia. Though she did not bowl, her tactical decisions during the game were praised.#australia #west_indies #beth_mooney #sophie_molineux #ellyse_perry
Australia captain Sophie Molineux confirms fitness progress ahead of T20I series against West Indies Australia’s cricket captain Sophie Molineux has confirmed she will be available for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies, despite ongoing recovery from a back injury. The left-arm fast bowler, who missed the latter stages of Australia’s recent ODI series against India, has expressed optimism about her readiness to compete in the Caribbean. Molineux emphasized her focus on peaking for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to begin in England less than three months after the T20I fixtures. Molineux, speaking from St Vincent, stated she is “looking forward to getting back out there with the girls” and is “available and looking forward to playing a role” in the white-ball series. While she confirmed her participation in the T20Is, she hinted at the possibility of being rested for the subsequent 50-over matches to ensure her body is fully prepared for the World Cup. The series against the West Indies, which will serve as Australia’s final scheduled tournament before the World Cup, is a critical opportunity for the team to build momentum. The West Indies squad, including skipper Hayley Matthews and experienced players like Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin, will also treat the series as a preparatory step for the T20 World Cup. Matthews acknowledged the importance of the fixtures, calling it a “good test of where we are as a team” ahead of the tournament. The Caribbean side aims to build on their recent T20 World Cup performance, where they reached the semi-finals before falling to New Zealand. Australia’s squad for the series includes Molineux as captain, alongside vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner and other key players such as Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt.#australia #west_indies #sophie_molineux #hayley_matthews #stafanie_taylor
Mooney Hails West Indies Victory as Crucial Prep for T20 World Cup Australia’s women’s cricket team marked the start of their Caribbean tour with a commanding 43-run victory over the West Indies in St Vincent, a result that Beth Mooney believes is vital preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The six-time T20 World Cup champions dominated the opening T20I, with Mooney leading the charge with a composed 79-run innings, earning her Player of the Match honors. Her partnership with veteran Ellyse Perry, who scored 36, helped Australia post a total of 164/6 at the Arnos Vale Ground. The West Indies struggled to build momentum in their chase, managing only 121/6 despite a spirited effort. Mooney emphasized the importance of the series as a stepping stone for the World Cup, which begins in England on June 12. “Playing T20s at this time of the year, especially against a strong West Indies side in foreign conditions, is exactly what we need ahead of the tournament,” she said. The team’s exposure to challenging conditions in the Caribbean, she argued, will better prepare them for the overseas challenges they’ll face in the World Cup. Despite the win, Australia’s performance was not without flaws. The team missed several catches during the match, frustrating captain Sophie Molineux, who admitted the errors were puzzling. “We’ve been training here and caught most of the time, so I’m not sure what it was tonight,” Molineux said. She added that the team would focus on improving their fielding in the upcoming matches. Molineux, who has been recovering from a lower back injury, did not bat or bowl in the match. Her absence highlights the team’s ongoing efforts to manage player fitness, with Molineux noting that her recovery will remain a priority throughout the tour.#beth_mooney #sophie_molineux #qiana_joseph #ellyse_perry #deandra_dottin
Ashleigh Gardner aims to reclaim her youthful confidence ahead of her 100th T20I appearance as she seeks to overcome a recent slump in her batting form. The 28-year-old will become the seventh woman to reach 100 T20Is for Australia when the team faces the West Indies in St Vincent on Thursday, a match that holds significance as Australia prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Gardner, who burst onto the international scene in 2017 with a reputation as a dynamic opener, has evolved into a key allrounder and one of the world’s top off-spinners, particularly in one-day cricket. Her ODI career has flourished, with an average of 45.94 in 2024, including three centuries and three fifties. However, her T20I performances have been less consistent, with an average of 18 and strike rate of 108.5 over nine years, marked by only one half-century. Speaking ahead of the match, Gardner acknowledged the challenge of adapting to the middle-order role in T20Is, where she often faces pressure to quickly adjust to match conditions and team needs. “Finding my gears really fast is something I haven’t done overly well in this format for a while,” she admitted. She emphasized the importance of balancing confidence with calculated decision-making, vowing to embrace her strengths without overstepping. Gardner drew inspiration from her teenage self, recalling a record-breaking 47-ball century in WBBL|03. “I was someone with no fear,” she said, reflecting on how her approach to cricket has shifted with maturity. “Now, I try to harness that fearlessness without being reckless. When I’m under pressure, I need to channel that energy to play my best.” Her journey from a raw 19-year-old in 2017 to a co-vice-captain alongside Tahlia McGrath highlights her growth.#t20_world_cup #west_indies #ashleigh_gardner #tahlia_mcgrath #sophie_molineux
