Australia sealed a comfortable 33-run victory over New Zealand in Tuesday’s key Women’s World T20 clash at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

Opener Alyssa Healy’s rich stretch of form continued with an entertaining 53 in a hefty final total of 153 for seven from Australia, who later restricted the New Zealanders to an entirely insufficient 120 all out.

Healy’s half-century featured eight fours and spanned a mere 38 deliveries. The 29-year-old right-hander has scored 159 runs across three innings in the tournament so far. She relished solid support from fellow opener Beth Mooney’s complementary 23 and the talented Rachel Haynes’ brisk 29 not out.

Seamer Megan Schutt proved the best of the Aussies’ bowling attack, clinching telling figures of three for 12 in three tight overs. The result kept Australia ahead of India at the top of group B.

India, meanwhile, lost to Pakistan at the same venue earlier in the day. Captain and Player of the Match Javeria Khan’s 74 not out from 52 balls afforded the Pakistanis an insurmountable 139 for six, as the Indians reached a mere 101 for nine in response.

Only two Irish players reached double figures in the collapsed pursuit, which left them firmly at the bottom of the group.

Wednesday will see Sri Lanka and South Africa clash with Bangladesh and the West Indies, respectively. Both group B matches will be played at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.

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