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Beth Mooney has played down any concerns about her back injury after Australia crushed the Netherlands by 98 runs in their T20 Women\u2019s World Cup clash in Southampton.<\/p>\n
In reply to Australia\u2019s 6-219 on Saturday, the world No.14 side were restricted to 3-121 despite a brave effort from the Associate nation.<\/p>\n
![\"Mooney](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/b4a6dadfba611ba4bc2100654483f134cddbd713.jpeg\")
Mooney bats during the Women\u2019s T20 World Cup match.Andrew Matthews\/PA via AP<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s third win on the trot has put them on the cusp of locking away a top-two berth in their group and a spot in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
But there was an injury scare with Mooney, who struck an unbeaten 74 off 42 deliveries before retiring hurt with the scoreboard reading 2-152 after 14 overs.<\/p>\n
Related Article Mooney didn\u2019t look hampered in any way before going off the ground, having just struck Iris Zwilling (3-52) for a six two balls earlier, before finishing the over by running a quick two.<\/p>\n Cricket Australia revealed Mooney was suffering from \u201cback stiffness\u201d, with the 32-year-old playing down the injury while receiving the player-of-the-match award after the win.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all good, just precautionary,\u201d Mooney said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just not used to all the bus travel we\u2019ve been doing. The Leeds to Southampton trip is a pretty long one.\u201d<\/p>\n Ash Gardner (58 off 32 balls) and Georgia Wareham (41 off 18 balls) cracked plenty of boundaries, but it was Mooney who looked the most dangerous before being forced off.<\/p>\n With fellow wicketkeeper option Phoebe Litchfield (quad) still sidelined and Mooney unable to operate behind the stumps in the Netherlands\u2019 innings, Georgia Voll took the gloves and snared a sharp catch to her right in the second over to send Phebe Molkenboer packing for a duck.<\/p>\n Kim Garth (2-20) picked up her second wicket a short time later as the Netherlands stumbled to 2-17, with the minnows unable to mount anything close to a serious challenge after that.<\/p>\n But the winless Netherlands (0-3) were still left with plenty to smile about ahead of their final group games against South Africa and Pakistan.<\/p>\n Dutch captain Babette de Leede struck an unbeaten 56 off 57 balls in her 100th T20I, while Sterre Kalis (44 off 43) also showed plenty of talent and defiance in a 96-run, third-wicket stand.<\/p>\n Related Article Australian quick Lucy Hamilton was economical with 0-13 off four overs in her T20 World Cup debut, giving selectors food for thought as the six-time champions gear up for games against Pakistan and India.<\/p>\n Earlier, Australia made a flying start after being sent in to bat, with Mooney and Voll finding boundaries at will as the scoreboard ticked over to 0-50 after 4.3 overs before a wobble came.<\/p>\n Voll (17 off nine balls) was the first to fall when she skied a fuller delivery for an easy catch.<\/p>\n And Australia slipped to 2-51 when Ellyse Perry – making a record 50th T20 World Cup appearance – was caught in the deep for one after trying to whack spinner Heather Siegers for six.<\/p>\n Gardner, on her return from an ankle injury, was given a life on 25 and made the most of it by racing to her half-century off just 28 balls.<\/p>\n Mooney blasted nine fours and a six before leaving the field with her back issue.<\/p>\n AAP<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Ellyse](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781975890_395_37b9c1f8e010638ebf7b95a8e60f4f979eda1ebc.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6a820b21b2df1e3e0074dec8538ee6743810b603.jpeg\")
Australia celebrates a wicket during their 98 run win over the Netherlands.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Australia\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781975891_141_d9910950c61c7f1c4d9c58a841a70b7eb352b6c5.jpeg\")
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