Elyse Villani’s magnificent, unbeaten 90 all-but put holders Australia into the Women’s World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 94-run thrashing of winless Pakistan is Sylhet.
The result puts Australia top of Group A, with three wins from their allocation of four games, ahead of New Zealand on net run-rate. Given the White Ferns still have to play third-placed South Africa, who have four points, Australia are effectively through to the knockout stage.
It was comfortably Villani’s highest international score, eclipsing her previous-best 36 not out – made in the same format.
The 24-year-old, making her 14th Australia appearance, dominated an opening stand of 61 with Alyssa Healy and added a further 104 alongside captain Meg Lanning, who contributed 50 to the alliance.
Villani smashed five sixes and six fours while her skipper respectively hit two and five in a towering score of 185 for two.
Although Pakistan openers Javeria Khan and Bismah Maroof shared a fifty partnership, it occupied more than half the 20 overs.
Once they fell for 27 and 28 respectively, Pakistan crumbled with no other player reaching double-figures.
Seamers Sarah Coyte, with 3-14, and Ellyse Perry, with 3-12, did the bulk of the damage from economical four-over allocations as Pakistan posted 91 for nine.
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