Australia’s latest standout star, Annabel Sutherland, has played a crucial role in Australia’s victory over Bangladesh in Dhaka, guiding them to a convincing 118-run win.

Following a rough start on a challenging and rotating surface, Australia’s score dropped to 4-48. However, Sutherland’s calculated performance led her team to a final score of 213-7 in the initial ODI of the three-game series.

She scored runs in a partnership of 67 with Alana King during the eighth wicket, with King hitting 46 runs off 31 balls, including five sixes.

Australian team successfully dismissed Bangladesh for a low score of 95 after Ashleigh Gardner’s impressive 3-22 bowling and Phoebe Litchfield’s excellent run-out.

However, it is Sutherland who remains productive for Australia.

Last year during the Ashes, the versatile player achieved her first century in Test cricket while batting at No. 8 for Australia. She continued her success by scoring a double century against South Africa in Perth last month.

On Thursday, the 22-year-old player showed more restraint as Australia’s Beth Mooney (25) and Gardner (32) worked to stabilize the match.

Sutherland scored 19 runs from her first 35 deliveries. Later, she increased the pace along with King. King successfully pulled and swept leg-spinner Fahima Khatun over the boundary four times in the last over.

King praised the batting performances of Annabel, Beth Mooney, and Ash Gardner.

“The groundwork was laid … It was simply a lighthearted moment in the final over. Our goal was to surpass 200 runs and Annabel allowed me to have full control.”

I am happy that I was able to join for numerous runs and connect with a few.

After Megan Schutt took a wicket with the second ball of Bangladesh’s innings, King maintained control of the ball by only giving up 12 runs in her 10 overs.

She also took the important wicket of opener Sobhana Mostary for 17 runs by bowling to the right-handed player who was attempting a sweep shot.

Three successive run-outs prevented Australia from experiencing a surprising defeat.

Litchfield expertly eliminated Fahima by lunging to her right at cover and making a precise throw to dismiss the right-hander who had only scored one run.

Mooney makes another accurate shot, targeting a single stump, and then four overs later manages to run out Ritu Moni at the non-striker’s end, who was on one run.

When Sutherland ran in and got Nigar Sultana Joty out for 27 because she didn’t slide her bat, the match was pretty much finished.

Source: theguardian.com