Australia won a thrilling encounter against England by 6 wickets at Holkar Stadium in Indore on October 22, 2025, in the 23rd match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Chasing 245, Australia reached 248/4 in 40.3 overs, thanks to an outstanding partnership between Annabel Sutherland (98 not out) and Ashleigh Gardner (104 not out), who put together a century stand to guide their team home with 57 balls remaining.
England posted 244/9 in their 50 overs after being put in to bat first. Tammy Beaumont top-scored with 78 off 105 deliveries, including 10 fours and one six, while Alice Capsey (38) and Charlie Dean (26) added a valuable 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Sources: ICC Official Website, Crictoday
Scorecard Summary
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England Women | 244/9 | 50.0 | 9 | Lost by 6 wickets |
| Australia Women | 248/4 | 40.3 | 4 | Won by 6 wickets |
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annabel Sutherland | Australia | All-rounder | 98* (112 balls, 9×4, 1×6) & 3/60 |
| Ashleigh Gardner | Australia | All-rounder | 104* (73 balls, 14×4) & 2/39 |
| Tammy Beaumont | England | Batter | 78 (105 balls, 10×4, 1×6) |
| Alice Capsey | England | Batter | 38 (32 balls, 3×4, 1×6) |
| Sophie Molineux | Australia | Bowler | 2/52 (10 overs) |
Source: Match Scorecard
Key Moments
- Early Breakthrough: Lauren Bell produced a brilliant delivery to remove Phoebe Litchfield in the first over, giving England an early advantage.
- England Strike Again: Linsey Smith dismissed Georgia Voll as Australia slipped to 2/21, putting pressure on the defending champions.
- Beaumont’s Brilliance: Tammy Beaumont led England’s charge with a composed 78, becoming the top-scorer in the first innings. However, Georgia Voll displayed excellent awareness at the boundary to remove her.
- Australia in Trouble: With the defending champions four wickets down for 68, the match seemed to be slipping away from Australia.
- Match-Winning Partnership: Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner stitched together a valuable century stand to bring Australia back into the chase and eventually guide them to victory.
- Capsey-Dean Partnership: With England six wickets down, Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean added respectability to the score with their partnership.
Match Analysis
This match between the two unbeaten teams in the tournament lived up to its billing as a heavyweight clash. Both Australia and England had already secured their semi-final spots before this encounter, but both teams were eager to preserve their perfect records.
England’s batting performance showed promise but lacked consistency in the middle overs. After a solid 55-run opening partnership, they lost wickets at regular intervals. The squeeze put on by Australia’s bowlers, led by Alana King’s economical 1-20 in ten overs with 4.7 degrees of turn, restricted England’s scoring. The middle-order struggled to capitalize, with experienced players like Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb failing to build substantial partnerships.
Australia’s chase got off to a shaky start, but Sutherland and Gardner showed exactly why Australia are the defending champions. Their partnership demonstrated composure and controlled aggression under pressure, taking the required run rate down to manageable levels. Sutherland, who hadn’t fired throughout the tournament, chose the perfect moment to play her best innings, while Gardner continued her excellent form in the competition.
What’s Next?
Australia will face South Africa in their final group stage match at Holkar Stadium, Indore on October 25, while England will look to maintain their unbeaten record in their remaining fixtures. Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals and will use their final group matches to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the knockout stages.
With this victory, Australia have sent a strong message to their rivals that they remain the team to beat in this tournament. Their ability to recover from difficult situations and win crucial matches makes them favorites to defend their title.