LEEDS: Australia produced another statement of their dominance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as Ellyse Perry's explosive batting and disciplined bowling powered the six-time champions to a crushing 113-run win over Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday.
After Perry's blistering 71 helped Australia post a daunting 199/7, Pakistan's chase fell apart under pressure as they were bowled out for 86 in just 13.4 overs, suffering their fourth straight defeat of the tournament.
Set to chase a daunting 200-run target, Pakistan could muster 86 before getting all out in 13.4 overs despite Muneeba Ali's spirited knock.
The left-handed opener waged a lone battle for Pakistan with a 25-ball 32 until falling victim to Ellyse Perry in the 10th over. Besides her, only Iram Javed (14) and captain Fatima Sana (17) could amass double figures.
For Australia, Annabel Sutherland, captain Sophie Molineux and Perry bagged two wickets each, while Georgia Wareham chipped in with one scalp.
Australia captain Sophie Molineux's decision to bat first proved beneficial as they piled up 199/7 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a century-plus partnership between Perry and Georgia Voll.
The six-time champions, however, got off to a contrasting start as Sadia Iqbal dismissed left-handed opener Beth Mooney (zero) on the first delivery of the innings.
Following the early stutter, Perry joined Voll in the middle, and the duo forced an astounding recovery by putting together 100 runs for the second wicket.
Nashra Sandhu eventually broke the threatening partnership in the 10th over by getting rid of Voll, who walked back after scoring 39 off 28 deliveries with the help of seven fours.
Sandhu struck again in the same over, dismissing Ashleigh Gardner for a two-ball duck, reducing Australia to 100/3.
Rameen Shamim inflicted another blow to Australia's batting charge in the next over as she got Georgia Wareham (five) caught at point by Gull Feroza.
With the scoreboard reading 107/4 in 10.4 overs, Annabel Sutherland joined Perry in the middle, and the duo frustrated the momentum-filled Pakistan bowling attack by raising an important 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket before both perished in successive overs.
Sutherland made an important contribution to Australia's total with an 18-ball 27, comprising four fours, while Perry remained the top-scorer with a quickfire 71 off just 48 deliveries, studded with nine fours and a six.
For her all-round brilliance, Perry was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Australia then suffered another setback on the second delivery of the penultimate over in the form of captain Molineux (five), but middle-order batter Nicola Carey's unbeaten 26-run cameo off 13 deliveries bolstered their total at the backend.
For Pakistan, Sandhu, Sadia and Rameen bagged two wickets each, while captain Fatima Sana could make one scalp.
The humbling defeat, which marked Pakistan's fourth consecutive loss, kept them at fourth spot in the Group 1 standings, only ahead of bottom-placed Netherlands, whom they next face at the same venue on Saturday.
For the unversed, Pakistan were already out of the semi-finals race from Group 1 following their gruelling 23-run defeat at the hands of Bangladesh last week.
On the contrary, it was Australia's fourth consecutive victory in the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2026 and consolidated their top spot with eight points and a hefty net run rate of 4.724.
