Australia’s opener extends her remarkable record of batting long in the shortest format
Contrary to general perception, even T20 cricket does not have to be all about the boundaries. The final over of Australia’s innings showed that, in a running masterclass staged by Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath. It was all the more impressive given Mooney had been out there for the entire innings. It was, staggeringly, the ninth time she has batted through the 20 overs for Australia, nearly one in five of her 51 innings opening when batting first.
It is an absurd record in such a volatile format, in a position that mandates risk-taking from the start. Mooney has never been out in the 20th over when batting first, and only twice in the 19th. Add that to the 14 times she has opened and remained not out at the end of a chase, some of those deep into an innings. Mooney is famous for overheating on hot days to the point of needing an ice collar, but she clearly has ice in her veins.