Australia Dominates Warm-up Matches Ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup

Australia has wrapped up its warm-up campaign in the United Arab Emirates with victories over England and the West Indies, setting a confident tone ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

The Aussies secured a 33-run win over England, their Ashes rivals, in a commanding display. However, their match against the West Indies proved to be a tougher test, with the Australians battling through a gritty contest to claim a 35-run victory.

Annabel Sutherland shone in the game against the West Indies, helping her team defend a modest total of 144. The Windies looked poised to chase the target with ease, standing at 1-92 at one stage.

But the Australian bowlers turned the game around in spectacular fashion, triggering a collapse that saw the West Indies lose 9 wickets for just 17 runs.

Tayla Vlaeminck and Alana King led the charge for Australia, with Vlaeminck taking 3-33 and King closing out the innings with impressive figures of 4-30.

Sutherland, who top-scored for Australia, expressed her satisfaction with the team’s hard-fought win and personal performance. “It was nice to get some time out in the middle personally,” she said.

“I think it was one of the grittier performances for the team to hang in there. For the lower order to get a chance out in the middle, I think that’s pretty vital in a practice match.”

Reflecting on the match, Sutherland acknowledged the pressure the bowlers faced but praised their ability to adapt and shift momentum. “The bowlers were put under the pump at different stages but I thought we adapted really well and then got a run of momentum and capitalised,” she added.

Australia now turns its focus to the Women’s T20 World Cup, where they will face Sri Lanka in their opening match on Saturday night. The team will need to rely on the experience gained from their warm-up games, as they won’t have the opportunity to train on the Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch beforehand.

“(Experiencing) the conditions was a big one, and that sharing of information, and learning to adapt,” Sutherland noted, emphasizing the importance of adjusting to unfamiliar playing environments in the UAE.

The Women’s T20 World Cup is being held in the UAE, with Australia aiming to continue their dominant form as the tournament kicks off.