Australia Women Defeat England Women by Six Wickets in Indore

Battling hard for the top spot, England Women took on Australia Women in a crucial day-night clash at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore during the ICC Women’s World Cup. England batted first after Australia won the toss and chose to field, setting up an exciting contest between two unbeaten sides. The English team aimed to post a competitive total on a pitch that seemed decent for batting, but they faced a disciplined Australian bowling attack.

England Women’s Innings

Opening the innings, Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont started steadily, focusing on building a solid foundation without taking too many risks early on. Jones looked comfortable at the crease, scoring 18 runs off 26 balls with three boundaries, showing good intent against the new ball. She partnered with Beaumont for a 55-run stand in the first wicket, which came in just 45 balls including extras.

This partnership helped England reach 50 runs in 7.2 overs, boosted by five extras. However, Annabel Sutherland struck in the ninth over, bowling Jones out for 18, breaking the opening pair and putting pressure on the middle order. Beaumont, playing aggressively, continued to anchor the innings, reaching her half-century off 59 balls with nine fours and one six, displaying her class with elegant drives and pulls.

Tammy Beaumont anchors England’s innings with a classy 78-run knock! 💥👏 #ENGW leading the charge with confidence and precision. 🏏🔥
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.#TammyBeaumont #ENGWvsINDW #WomensCricket #CricketFever #CricketFans #EnglandCricket #CricketLove #CricketHighlights pic.twitter.com/4Hn15eXWC5

— STUMPSNBAILS (@stumpnbails) October 22, 2025

Heather Knight joined Beaumont and added 20 runs off 27 balls, including three boundaries, in a 35-run partnership for the second wicket. Knight looked in control but was dismissed lbw by Sophie Molineux in the 18th over for 20, a decision upheld after Australia’s review. This left England at 90 for two after 17.5 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the captain, came in next but couldn’t capitalize, scoring just seven runs off 14 balls with one four before being caught by Sutherland off Alana King’s bowling in the 23rd over. At this point, England were 105 for three, needing to rebuild.

Sophia Dunkley partnered with Beaumont, but the scoring rate dipped as Australia tightened their grip with spin. Beaumont pushed on to 78 runs off 105 balls, hitting 10 fours and one six, before being caught by Georgia Voll off Sutherland in the 35th over, ending her knock at a strike rate of 74.28. This dismissal came when England were 147 for four, after crossing 100 runs in 21.1 overs and 150 in 35.4 overs. Emma Lamb followed but lasted only 10 balls for seven runs with one four, bowled by Sutherland in the 37th over, making it 160 for five.

Alice Capsey then injected some momentum, scoring a brisk 38 off 32 balls with five fours at a strike rate of 118.75. She formed a brief stand with Dunkley, who made 22 off 48 balls before being stumped by Beth Mooney off Ashleigh Gardner in the 40th over, leaving England at 166 for six. Capsey continued aggressively, partnering with Charlie Dean for a vital 61-run seventh-wicket stand. Dean contributed 26 off 27 balls with three fours at 96.29 strike rate. Together, they pushed England past 200 in 44.2 overs. Capsey’s innings ended lbw to Molineux in the 48th over for 38, a decision she reviewed but lost, and Dean was caught by Phoebe Litchfield off Gardner soon after, both in quick succession at 227 for seven and eight.

Sophie Ecclestone remained not out on 10 off seven balls with two fours, showing late fireworks at 142.85 strike rate. Linsey Smith scored three off three but was run out in the 50th over, and Lauren Bell finished not out on two off two. England totaled 244 for nine in 50 overs at a run rate of 4.88, with 13 extras including five byes, four leg byes, one no-ball, and three wides. The fall of wickets showed a pattern of starts without big conversions, with key moments like the powerplay yielding 55 for one.

Three wickets for Annabel Sutherland, two apiece for Sophie Molineux and Ash Gardner while Alana King bowled 41 dot balls 💪

LIVE: https://t.co/kx7lvrRClX #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/QCNG7v0ZIx

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) October 22, 2025

On the bowling front, Sutherland was the star with three for 60 in 10 overs, including one maiden, at an economy of 6.00. Molineux took two for 52 in 10 overs, Gardner two for 39 in nine, and King one for 20 in 10 with one maiden, proving economical at 2.00. Megan Schutt and Kim Garth went wicketless, conceding 21 and 43 respectively. Australia bowled tightly, with 31 dot balls from Sutherland and 41 from King, restricting boundaries and forcing errors. England’s innings had highs like Beaumont’s anchor role and Capsey’s acceleration, but mid-innings caution after 135 for three in 32 overs led to a below-par total, especially with only 227 before the late push. The team managed 200 but couldn’t accelerate enough in the death overs, losing wickets at crucial junctures.

Australia Women’s Innings

Shifting to the chase, Australia Women needed 245 to win and started aggressively despite early setbacks. Phoebe Litchfield opened but fell for one off two balls, bowled by Lauren Bell in the first over, putting them at two for one. Georgia Voll scored six off seven with one four before being bowled by Linsey Smith in the fourth over, making it 21 for two. Ellyse Perry added 13 off 19 with three fours but was caught and bowled by Smith in the sixth over, leaving Australia at 24 for three after 5.2 overs, in a spot of bother.

Ash Gardner brings up her second century of #CWC25 – this one off just 69 balls! 🔥https://t.co/NndcoQzNnO | #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/i3PPxu78XD

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 22, 2025

Beth Mooney steadied with 20 off 30 balls including one four, partnering with Annabel Sutherland for a 44-run fourth-wicket stand. Mooney was caught by Sciver-Brunt off Sophie Ecclestone in the 16th over, at 68 for four. From here, Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner turned the game with an unbeaten 180-run fifth-wicket partnership. Sutherland remained not out on 98 off 112 balls with nine fours and one six at 87.50 strike rate, anchoring superbly. She reached 50 off 66 balls and powered through, surviving a review in the 10th over.

Gardner exploded with 104 not out off 73 balls, smashing 16 fours at 142.46 strike rate. She hit her fifty off 47 balls and century off 69, dominating the bowlers with aggressive strokes. Their stand came in 133 balls, including 150 runs with four extras. Australia crossed 50 in 10.6 overs, 100 in 22.5, 150 in 29.1, 200 in 35.3, finishing at 248 for four in 40.3 overs at 6.12 run rate, winning by six wickets with 57 balls left. Extras were six, with one bye and five wides.

You bloody beauties 🤩⁣
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Scorecard: https://t.co/ZjqA7HwjZ0 #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/OCXe5stlxq

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) October 22, 2025

England’s bowlers struggled after the powerplay of 46 for three. Bell took one for 48 in eight overs, Smith two for 43 in eight, Ecclestone one for 62 in 9.3, while Sciver-Brunt, Dean, and Capsey went wicketless, conceding 44, 32, and 18 respectively. Dot balls were notable, like 26 from Bell, but Australia capitalized on loose deliveries. Sutherland’s all-round show earned her Player of the Match, with her 98 not out complementing her three wickets earlier. Gardner’s century was the highlight, breaking England’s defense with power-hitting. The chase showcased Australia’s depth, recovering from 24 for three to dominate, laying a marker for the tournament with clinical finishing.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

After the fall of 4 wickets, Australia Women were staring at 68/4 in the 16th over, chasing 245 against England. Beth Mooney’s dismissal left the middle order exposed, but Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner stepped up with a match-defining partnership. Sutherland, batting at No. 5, played the anchor role, facing 112 balls to score an unbeaten 98, laced with 9 fours and 1 six. Gardner, coming in at No. 6, attacked from the start, smashing 10 fours and 7 sixes in just 73 balls to race to 104 not out.

68-4 🔄 248-4

Australia remain unbeaten at the Women's World Cup after extraordinary innings from their two all-rounders.

SCORECARD: https://t.co/YkLhn77kFQ pic.twitter.com/vlMWAHmrdB

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 22, 2025

Their unbroken 180-run stand for the fifth wicket came off only 208 balls at a stunning run rate of over 8.5. The duo shifted gears after the 30th over, with Gardner unleashing powerful pulls and lofts while Sutherland rotated strike and found boundaries at will. Needing 177 from the last 20 overs, they plundered 109 runs in the final 10, sealing a six-wicket win with 57 balls to spare.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Being the player who turned the match on its head, Annabel Sutherland was named TCNI’s Hero of the Day in Australia’s commanding 6-wicket win over England in the ICC Women’s World Cup on October 22, 2025, in Indore. The 23-year-old all-rounder first wrecked England’s batting with a brilliant spell of 3 for 60 in 10 overs, dismissing key players like Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Emma Lamb. Her tight bowling kept England to 244/9 despite Beaumont’s fighting 78.

Starring with the ball, and now with the bat – Annabel Sutherland brings up her first World Cup fifty 👏https://t.co/NndcoQAldm | #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/mh6w1AAJEa

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 22, 2025

Then, chasing 245, Sutherland walked in at 68/4 and played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 98 off 112 balls, with 9 fours and 1 six. She built crucial partnerships, especially a 180-run stand with Ashleigh Gardner (104*), guiding Australia home in just 40.3 overs with 57 balls to spare. Sutherland’s calm, mature batting under pressure and her earlier bowling heroics made her the standout performer. Her all-round impact not only broke England’s unbeaten run but also strengthened Australia’s grip on the tournament, keeping them top of the table with 11 points. A true game-changer, Sutherland proved why she’s one of the brightest talents in women’s cricket.