Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy struck unbeaten half-centuries as defending champion Australia thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to nearly qualify for the semifinals of the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup right here on Thursday.

Medium pacer Megan Schutt (4 for twenty-four) returned with a four-wicket haul as Australia dished out a scientific bowling show to limit Sri Lanka to 112 for eight after opting to bowl.

It turned out to be a cakewalk for Australia as Healy and and Mooney shared an unbeaten 113-run opening stand to chase down the goal in 15.5 overs.

While Mooney remained unbeaten on 56 off 53 balls, Healy made 54 not out off 43 deliveries.

Mooney struck seven boundaries throughout her knock, whereas Healy adorned her innings with six fours and one hit over the fence as Australia continued its dominance within the match.

By advantage of this win, Australia consolidated its place on the high of Group 1 with three wins out of as many video games, whereas Sri Lanka is positioned second with two victories from three matches.

Australia will face host South Africa in its last recreation on Saturday, whereas Sri Lanka will likely be up in opposition to New Zealand a day later.

The complete was too small a goal for the formidable Australian batting line-up as Sri Lankan bowlers by no means appeared threatening and struggled to interrupt the dominant opening partnership, enabling the Southern Stars to register a commanding win.

Sent in to bat, Sri Lanka’s innings by no means bought going because it misplaced wickets at common intervals.

Harshitha Samarawickrama (34) and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (16) stitched 30 runs off 29 balls for the opening wicket earlier than the latter was caught at mid-on by Grace Harris off the bowling of Ellyse Perry (one for 20).

Samarawickrama, whose runs got here off 40 balls with the assistance of three boundaries, then shared 39 runs with Vishmi Gunaratne (24).

But simply when the partnership was trying harmful, Samarawickrama was stumped by Healy off Harris.

Harris struck once more 4 balls later, accounting for Oshadi Ranasinghe for a duck.

Thereafter, Sri Lanka saved dropping wickets at common intervals to handle a below-par complete.

Besides Schutt’s 4 wickets, Harris (two for seven) picked up two wickets whereas Perry (one for 14) and Georgia Wareham (one for 20) scalped one every.