Women’s T20 World Cup. Australia beats Pakistan by 113 runs, moves closer to semifinals Cricket News:

NEW DELHI: Australia continued their unbeaten run in the Women’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 113-run win over Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday. However, despite winning all four of their matches so far, Australia are yet to secure a semifinal berth.South Africa and India can still finish with four wins each, keeping the race wide open. Australia, who have never failed to reach the semifinals of the tournament, will face India in their final group-stage match at a sold-out Lord’s on Sunday.Elsewhere, defending champions New Zealand and Sri Lanka kept their semifinal hopes alive with victories in Bristol. New Zealand beat Scotland by six wickets, while Sri Lanka beat Ireland by nine wickets.Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu made a memorable unbeaten 106, becoming only the eighth player to score a century in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup. His knock came just two days after he described himself as “a failure as a captain” following Sri Lanka’s loss to the West Indies.Perry stars as Australia dominatesAustralia recovered from the loss of Beth Mooney in the very first ball to post 199/7. Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll led the way with a 100-run partnership that came in just 56 balls.Voll scored 39, while Perry made 71 off 48 deliveries. Valuable contributions from Annabel Sutherland (27) and Nicola Carey (26) helped Australia finish well.Pakistan never recovered their chase and were bowled out for 86 in the 14th over. Three run-outs hurt their cause, with opener Muneeba Ali top-scoring with 32.Perry picked up two wickets in his lead, while captain Sophie Molineux and Sutherland claimed two wickets each. Georgia Wareham also impressed, taking a wicket and bowling 11 dot balls in her two overs.“We have options, we have depth, we are in a good position in that space,” Molineux said. “We always review our games and there are things we want to take note of, and even though we had a couple of solid wins I don’t think we focused on everything.”Athapaththu ruled Sri LankaAthapaththu, playing in his 10th T20 World Cup, responded well after a disappointing start to the tournament.Facing Ireland, he attacked from the start and reached his fifty in 32 balls. He then went on to register his first World Cup century and fourth T20 hundred overall. His innings included 76 runs in boundaries.The Sri Lankan skipper finished unbeaten on 106 and cruised to victory as Sri Lanka chased down the target with 4.3 overs to spare.“I got out early in the last game. I was disappointed about that but we won today and that’s what matters to me as a player, as a captain,” Athapaththu said. “I just play my natural game, I always attack. I try my best to do my best.”Ireland, still in search of their first ever Women’s T20 World Cup victory, recovered from an early collapse thanks to captain Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul. Lewis scored 59 off 50 balls before being dismissed by Athapaththu.Sharp and Halliday saved New ZealandNew Zealand survived an early scare before beating Scotland by six wickets.The White Ferns struggled on 26/3 when Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday combined for a match-winning 101-run partnership. Sharp led the recovery with a career-best 62 off 43 balls, while Halliday remained unbeaten on 41 as New Zealand reached 132/4 with 10 balls to spare.New Zealand captain Melie Kerr praised Sharp after the win.“He has the potential to be one of the best in New Zealand and the best in the world.”Earlier, Scotland looked set for a bigger total after opener Darcey Carter’s aggressive start. Carter scored an unbeaten 72, but the New Zealand bowlers pulled back in the closing overs.Sophie Devine scored twice in an over, while Kerr finished with figures of 3/17, including a double-wicket maiden in the 19th over, as Scotland finished on 131/7.New Zealand’s chase got off to a shaky start, but Sharp and Halliday held on through the innings before accelerating late on to secure a crucial victory.The tournament continues on Wednesday with an unbeaten England side taking on an unbeaten West Indies team.