Australia easily defeats Bangladesh at T20 World Cup in South Africa

A day after the excitement of racking up big paydays in the WPL auction, Australia’s stars showed their worth in South Africa.

Eyebrows were raised when Australian leg-spinner Georgia Wareham earnt a six-figure payday at the Women’s Premier League auction on Monday while first-choice leggie Alana King went unsold.

Wareham hadn’t played international cricket since October 2021 after suffering an ACL injury, and a few state games for Victoria was her only output for teams to gauge.

But the 23-year-old showed why the Gujarat Giants forked out $131,000 for her as Wareham bowled the Aussies to victory over Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup in a cruisy victory that kept their quest for a three-peat of titles on track.

Playing her first official game for Australia in 485 days, having played two warm-up games, Wareham snared 3-20 as Australia limited the battling Bangladeshis to just 7-107 off their 20 overs in Port Elizabeth.

Georgia Wareham bowled Australia to victory. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Then skipper Meg Lanning, who was sold for $193,000 herself in the WPL auction, steered the defending champs home, with Ash Gardner, the half-a-million-dollar star, hitting the winning runs in the eight-wicket win, achieved with 10 balls to spare.

Lanning finished on 48 not out after Alyssa Healy made 37, but Wareham was crowned player of the match and thanked the selectors for backing her to go to South Africa despite her lack of lead-in cricket.

“It’s pretty special to play for your country but to do that in a World Cup and get some wickets was pretty cool,” Warehman said.

“It’s really cool for the selectors to back me in to come to this World Cup without having played much cricket.”

Lanning said Wareham was a “game changer” and showed why she was picked for the squad.

“She’s had a long road back from a pretty serious injury and to have her back in the side was really great to see,” she said.

“She’s able to impact the game in all three facets, and that’s certainly very handy to have. We are pumped to have her back.”

Meg Lanning made an unbeaten 48. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

While Warehman starred, teen fast bowler Darcie Brown took her wicket tally at the World Cup to six in just two matches, snaring the opening two Bangladesh wickets and she looms as a key weapon in Australia’s title defence.

“It was nice to get the win, but we feel like we can keep getting better,” Lanning said.

BETH’S BATTLES

It was another comprehensive win for the Aussies but a concerning run of outs for superstar opener Beth Mooney continued.

Mooney, who was the second-highest priced Australian to be bought in Monday’s action after the Giants shelled out $350,000 for her, was out for just two.

It followed a duck in the opening match against New Zealand, having also been bowled on the very first ball in Australia’s warm-up match loss to Ireland.

Beth Mooney was out for just two. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP

ASH GETS IT DONE

On Monday night all-rounder Gardner stunned the cricket world when she was picked up for $558,000 in the WPL auction.

Australian coach Shelley Nitschke said she was confident all the players would be able to refocus for the clash.

Gardner did just that, snaring 1-17 with the ball before making an unbeaten 19, including hitting the winning runs.