Australia flogs the Netherlands, Bangladesh beats Pakistan at Women's T20 World Cup

Bangladesh then eliminated Pakistan by 23 runs with two great comebacks to stay in the hunt for a first semifinal.

Mooney retires hurt but OK

Opening batter Beth Mooney gave Australia a scare when she retired on 74 off 42 balls with a stiff back. But she said afterward she was fine.

“I'm all good, just precautionary,” Mooney said. “Probably just not used to all the bus travel we've been doing.”

Mooney shared 50 runs off 28 balls for the opening wicket with Georgia Voll (17) and 101 off 55 with Ash Gardner (58), who returned from an ankle sprain.

Georgia Wareham swept Australia past 200 with 41 off 18 including 32 runs from boundaries.

With Mooney sidelined, Australia didn't have a backup wicketkeeper. The usual alternative, Phoebe Litchfield, was out with a quad issue. The gloves were given to Voll and she was tidy, taking a catch in the second over as pacer Kim Garth took 2-10 in her first two overs.

The Netherlands, appearing in its first World Cup, was never going to chase down 220 but captain Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis combined for 96 from 91 balls from the fourth over to the 19th.

Kalis, dropped on 21 and 40, was bowled for 44 and captain de Leede, 56 not out off 57 balls, finished the match with Robine Rijke, both of whom were playing their 100th T20s.

“This is a massive moment for us,” de Leede said. “Australia are a quality team (so) to learn from them, see how they go about their innings, it's just incredible.”

Bangladesh collapse Pakistan

Bangladesh recovered from 13-3 to post 123-6 and limited Pakistan to 100-8.

Pakistan has also lost to India and South Africa while Bangladesh has also beaten the Netherlands.

Bangladesh chose to bat first but was quickly 13-3. Captain Nigar Sultana held the innings together through the middle overs against the miserly bowling of Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal and opposite skipper Fatima Sana.

But then Bangladesh plundered 43 off the last four overs with a big finish by Shorna Akter; 39 runs off 22 balls.

Pakistan's chase of 124 started comfortably with openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza combining for 49. After they were prised out, the turning point came in the 12th over when slow left-armer Sanjida Akter Meghla took two wickets to reduce Pakistan to 70-4.

Those setbacks tumbled Pakistan off its run-a-ball pace and it never recovered. Pakistan scored only 30 more runs in eight overs, tied down by the spin of Akter Meghla, Rabeya Khan and Nahida Akter.

Later Saturday was England vs. Scotland.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket