ICC Women's World Cup 2022: Australia beat Pakistan by 7 wickets, Bismah Maroof's cradle celebration goes viral

ICC Women's World Cup 2022: Australia's bid for a seventh title continues as the Meg Lanning-led side registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Pakistan Women in their second match of the tournament in New Zealand.

Australia women's dished out a clinical performance and outplayed Pakistan women's in all departments to cruise to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the 6th match of ICC Women's World Cup 2022 at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval to move to the pole position in the points table on Tuesday. Australia restricted Pakistan to 190 for 6 and then gunned down the target comfortably, sealing a seven-wicket win over Pakistan with 15.2 overs to spare on Tuesday.

Australia are the hot favourites in the mega event, having won the tournament a record six times. The 2013 winners have now registered back-to-back wins over defending champions England and Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan Women must improve across all the departments in order to get off that last position as the Bismah Mahroof-led side has suffered crushing defeats at the hands of India and Australia.

Australia chased down the target comfortably, sealing a seven-wicket win over Pakistan with 15.2 overs to spare #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/JnVOVU5PjY

Pakistan lost the match but captain Bismah Maroof's cradle celebration has gone viral on social media. Maroof scored a half-century and celebrated it with a baby rocking gesture, looking at her baby in the dressing room. Maroof has become the first Pakistani women cricketer to register a half-century against Australia in the ODI World Cup on Tuesday. She remained unbeaten on 78.

Australian bowlers struck at regular intervals, save a fine 99-run partnership between skipper Maroof (78 not out) and all-rounder Aliya Riaz (53), to restrict Pakistan to 190 for six after skipper Meg Lanning decided to field. The Australian batters, led by star wicketkeeper Healy (72), who scored a scintillating half-century, then batted comfortably to notch up their second win of the tournament with 15.3 overs to spare.

Chasing 191 for the win, Healy and Racheal Haynes (34) shared a 60-run stand to provide a steady start to Australia. Some sub-par fielding by Pakistan gave the two openers a reprieve each with their catches going down.