PAKISTAN’S LOT

PAKISTAN last night delayed its likely World Cup exit by winning the toss and choosing to bat against Bangladesh in their last group match at Lord’s in London.

Fifth-placed Pakistan needed to bat first — and needed to win by an unprecedented 316 runs or more to overtake NZ and claim fourth place for the playoffs.

Pakistan could have matched the Black Caps on points and number of victories if it was to beat Bangladesh, but would almost certainly have a worse net run-rate.

Pakistan made no changes to the team that beat Afghanistan for a third straight win. Bangladesh made two changes from its loss to India on Tuesday. Mahmudullah was fit again and came in for batsman Sabbir Rahman. BETH Mooney and Jess Jonassen’s unbeaten 60-run seventh-wicket partnership has lifted Australia to a fourwicket victory in their second one-dayer of the Ashes series with England after Delissa Kimmince’s five wickets held the hosts to a sub-par total.

Chasing 218, Ellyse Perry’s 62 put Australia on course for victory, but then she fell for the fifth wicket with 82 runs still needed in Leicester.

However, Mooney (43) and Jonassen (31) then stepped up to close out the victory.

Earlier, England’s Tammy Beaumont (114) hit the first century of the series but got little support as her side fell to 217 all out, with Kimmince taking 5-26, including two wickets in consecutive overs to bring a premature end to the innings.

Once again chasing a low score, Australia stumbled initially with Alyssa Healy (nine), Nicole Bolton (one) and Meg Lanning (18) failing to support Perry.