ICC Women's World Cup 2022, Australia Women vs England Women: Australia Defeat England In Opener, Win By 12 Runs

We are back for the run chase! The Australian players are seen raring to go on the sidelines as the umpires make their way out to the middle. Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield are the openers for England. Megan Schutt has the new ball in hand and is ready to steam in. Let's go...

... The Run Chase ...

Right then! England Women need 311 runs to win and break the record for the most successful run-chase in Women's World Cup history. New Zealand did come close to breaking it last night but it seems to be a much tougher job tonight against a feisty Australian bowling attack. Can England pull off a miracle? The run-chase coming up next.

Meg Lanning is up for a quick chat. Lanning says it was hard at the front as England bowled really well. Adds that Haynes took the pressure away from her and they built the innings really well at the back end. Mentions the pitch was hard but it was flat as the game progressed, there was some dampness, and hopes her bowlers can bowl well on it.

Heather Knight won the toss and elected to bowl first which was the correct decision given the conditions and also the slowness of the outfield. The Aussie openers, especially Healy attacked the English pacers right from the off. They did manage to get Healy out but failed to capitalize on it. Knight will be lamenting the fact that her side wasn't daring enough to take a few more risks and allowed the pair of Lanning and Haynes to get settled in nicely. This proved to be fatal as even the experienced trio of Sciver, Shrubsole and Brunt couldn't get control in the middle overs. The final few overs produced a lot of runs and having just 5 regulations bowlers didn't help England either. Sophie Ecclestone had to bowl at the death and the spinner was taken to the cleaners in the end. All in all a disappointing bowling effort and now the batters have a tough job on their hands.

There was rain early in the day and the wicket wasn't the easiest to bat on. Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes tried to get Australia off to a flier but the feisty Healy fell early after scoring a few boundaries. After Healy departed, it was up to the captain and the vice-captain to do the repair work and boy didn't they do it to the tee. It was slow going for a long period of time as both Haynes and Lanning just tried to find their feet. Once they got set, they took on the English bowlers and made sure that the bad deliveries were put away. The pair put on a partnership of 196-runs and Rachael Haynes even went on to get a big century. After Meg Lanning was sent back, Beth Mooney came out with aggressive intent and Ellyse Perry too joined the party in the final over to guide their side to a daunting total.

What a blistering start to the Women's World Cup we have had! It was Hayley Matthews last night and today it is Rachael Haynes with the big-match innings. Australia Women have ended up with 310 runs on a pitch that isn't the easiest to bat on and an outfield which isn't the quickest either. What an effort! England Women have their work cut out in front of them and it will require something special from their batters to chase this mammoth total down.

A single! Flatter and on middle, tucked to square leg for a single. Australia Women end their innings at 310/3.

FOUR! What a cameo this is turning out to be! Tossed up, on middle. Ellyse Perry sweeps it to deep square leg for yet another boudary. Ellyse Perry giving the finishing touches.

FOUR! Flatter and outside off. Ellyse Perry dabs it hard and to third man for a boundary. The fielder gives a chase but in vain.

Tossed up, on middle. Mooney works it to mid-wicket for a single.

300 up for Australia Women! A single as this is hit to point.

FOUR!  Perry was waiting for some time to get out. This is what she wanted to show! On a length, on the pads. Perry tickles it past the diving fine leg fielder for a boundary.

FOUR! Short and outside off. Mooney slaps it over point for a boundary.

Ellyse Perry is in at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Haynes goes! From the start and almost finished the innings! What a special innings from her. Nothing wrong by her, she tried to finish on high as Haynes tries to heave this full delivery over mid-wicket but fails to power. Danni Wyatt there takes it. Haynes goes with appreciation from everyone on the ground and gets some from England players as well. Fantastic innings from her.

Another superb yorker but Mooney is equal to the task as she gets her bat in middle and hits it to point for one.

Short of a length, on middle, pulled to deep square leg for a single.

A yorker, on middle. Haynes guides it nicely but finds point.

SIX! Freebie to start! A full toss, on middle. Haynes had all the time as she pulls it well over square leg for a biggie. Nearing to 150...