Women's World Cup 2022: Australia survive scare vs Bangladesh to finish league stage with a perfect record

Women's World Cup: Beth Mooney hit an unbeaten 66 as Australia recovered from early collapse to successfully chase down 136 against Bangladesh in their final league game of the tournament on Friday.

Australia survived a massive scare against Bangladesh at Basin Reserve in Wellington to end their league stage campaign at the Women's World Cup with a perfect record. Meg Lanning's side recovered from 41/4 to successfully chase down 136 in a rain-affected game to remain unbeaten in the league stage and head into the semi-final with an unbeaten run.

Beth Mooney hit an unbeaten 66 in windy conditions and fading light as Australia gunned down the target in 32.1 overs.

Mooney made 66 not out and combined in an unbroken 65-run partnership with Annabel Sutherland (26 not out) to ensure Australia reached its winning target with 65 balls to spare.

The match at Wellington's Basin Reserve began late because of rain and was reduced to 43 overs per side. It was played in a southerly gale so strong - with gusts topping 100 kph (60 mph) - that the umpires had to dispense with the bails after the 11th over of the first innings,

The players clung to their caps and shivered in the outfield as the temperature dropped to around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). Batters were knocked off balance and fast bowlers lost their run-ups as they were blown through the crease with the wind at their backs.

Only one group of players flourished in the conditions: spin bowlers had a field day. Tossed up or bowled flat into the breeze, the ball drifted and dropped and batters sometimes were at a loss to time their shots.

Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner and left-armer Jess Jonassen shared four wickets for 36 runs from 17 overs as Australia restricted Bangladesh to 135-6 after winning the toss.