Beth Mooney reaches 7,000-run milestone as Australia women's national cricket team level series against India women's national cricket team
Beth Mooney etched her name further into Australian cricket history on Tuesday night, becoming just the fourth Australian batter to surpass 7,000 international runs in women’s cricket during a six-wicket ODI victory over India at Allan Border Field.
Mooney’s composed 76 from 79 deliveries earned her player-of-the-match honours and helped Australia chase down 215 with more than 11 overs to spare, levelling the multi-format series at 2-2. Two ODIs in Hobart and a Test in Perth remain to decide the contest.
The left-hander reached the landmark early in her innings, joining Australian greats Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy in the exclusive 7,000-run club.
“I didn’t know that came up tonight but certainly when I first started playing with this team I didn’t think I’d be on too many lists alongside those three players,” Mooney said.
“It is probably a testament to being around for a long time but also the opportunities that have been presented to me. I am very grateful and lucky that the coaching staff and selectors have shown a lot of faith and trust in me. Hopefully that is not the end and I have plenty more in me.”
Key partnership with Healy
Mooney once again demonstrated her versatility at the crease. Initially rotating the strike and finding gaps with precision, she shifted gears seamlessly, striking two authoritative sixes straight down the ground as her strike rate surged from 70 to nearly 100.
She shared a crucial 64-run partnership with captain Healy, who made 50 from 70 balls in what is her final international series before retirement. The stand stabilised Australia after back-to-back wickets and ensured the chase never drifted off course.
“It has been a real privilege to play alongside Midge [Healy] and spend a fair bit of time out in the middle with her,” Mooney said. “We’ve had some pretty amazing partnerships along the way. Tonight’s was much-needed after back-to-back wickets.
“To see the way she adapts and changes her style of play based on the conditions and the situation in front of her has been class throughout her career. To share a partnership with her was cool and hopefully we’ve got a few more in us by the end of the series.”
Bowlers set the platform
Australia’s victory was set up by a disciplined bowling effort that restricted India to 214. Mooney singled out the contribution of Megan Schutt, who was drafted into the side late after a quad injury to fellow quick Kim Garth.
Schutt, who missed the recent T20I series that India won 2-1, boarded a 6am flight on Monday to join the squad and made an immediate impact by claiming a wicket in the opening over.
Mooney believes the batting unit is building nicely ahead of the remaining fixtures.
“That’s where we want to be as a batting group, adapting to conditions but also taking the game on where we can,” she said. “The conditions in Hobart will be different, so it will be nice to get down there and have a couple of ODIs on a pretty good batting wicket.
“To level out the series has been really good for us and hopefully we can win the next two as well leading into the Test.”