Colombo, Oct 9 (NationPress) Beth Mooney emerged as the pivotal player for Australia as they decisively overcame Pakistan with a remarkable comeback in the ninth match of the current Women’s World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka. The talented batter shared insights into her mindset that fueled her team's recovery from a troubling situation.

Australia staged an impressive comeback during the first innings against Pakistan. Mooney’s century, coupled with Alana King’s remarkable half-century while batting at No. 10, propelled the team to a total of 221/9 after being in dire straits at 67/7 at one point.

Mooney demonstrated her prowess, reinforcing why she and her teammates are the defending champions, and with her crucial innings, she sent a potent message to the rest of the teams in the tournament.

She attributed her extraordinary performance to a team-oriented approach, which included a thorough pre-game net session with assistant coach Dan Marsh. Speaking to the media post-match, Mooney expressed:

"I don’t shy away from feedback as the game progresses. These matches are vital to utilize the resources around you, so every chance I had to receive messages was crucial given the situation."

"At one point, I was trying to determine when I could start being a bit more aggressive, identifying a number or over to play more shots, and receiving tailored messages about specific bowlers and strategies against them."

"Fortunately, we have outstanding support staff on the bench from whom I sought advice, along with players sidelined who, although not in the playing XI, contributed significantly by providing a listening ear during my moments of indecision."

The initial strategy focused on draining Pakistan's energy and momentum, successfully executed by Mooney and Garth during their 39-run eighth-wicket partnership spanning 12.3 overs.

Mooney continued with this approach early in her record-breaking 106-run ninth-wicket partnership with Alana King, as they accelerated towards the end to elevate the score to 221/9 in 50 overs.

"Having another task to focus on, specifically guiding Kim Garth and Alana King on their plans, helped me clear my mind and concentrate on my responsibilities. We still had ample time in the game, so my strategy with Kim was to take some time out of the game. Teams like Pakistan thrive when they are in control, and establishing a partnership can deflate their spirit, allowing us to regain control," Mooney elaborated.

Since Australia’s match against Sri Lanka was washed out on Saturday, the encounter against Pakistan marked their first outing in the country after arriving a week earlier.

This match also represented Mooney’s first ODI innings in Sri Lanka and only her second appearance in the country across any format, following a lone T20I in a different venue in Colombo back in 2016.

Expanding on her innings, Mooney stated:

"There were certainly instances when I considered taking on a bowler with a reverse sweep or a ramp shot, but I had to quickly shelve those thoughts and focus on the present scenario. I understood we had plenty of time to bat, so we didn’t need to act rashly, and we were still incrementally moving the scoreboard, although not at our usual pace, which the situation required."

"As the game opened up more for us as batters, we were able to score more freely. The time left in the match certainly aided in keeping us composed."