In a thrilling encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, the Australian women’s team etched their name into the record books with the highest ninth-wicket partnership in Women’s ODI cricket.
Beth Mooney and Alana King produced a sensational late fightback against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 group stage clash. With Australia reeling at 115 for 8, the duo came together and turned the innings around with a stunning stand worth 106 runs.
Mooney, calm and determined, scored a magnificent 109 off 114 balls, while King, batting lower down the order, played one of her best knocks, smashing an unbeaten 51 off 49 balls. Together, they pushed Australia to a respectable total of 221/9 in 50 overs, a score that looked impossible at one stage.
This partnership not only rescued Australia from a collapse but also went down in history as the highest ninth-wicket stand in Women’s ODI cricket.
Highest 9th Wicket Partnerships in Women’s ODI Cricket
| Players | Runs (Balls) | Opponent / Match | Venue & Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Mooney – Alana King (Australia) | 106 (97) | vs Pakistan, Women’s World Cup 2025 | Colombo, 2025 |
| Ashleigh Gardner – Kim Garth (Australia) | 77 | vs South Africa | North Sydney Oval, 2023/24 |
| Laura-Rose Askew – Isa Guha (England) | 73 | vs New Zealand | Chennai, 2006/07 |
Previous Record: Gardner & Garth’s 77-run stand
The previous record for the ninth wicket was held by Ashleigh Gardner and Kim Garth of Australia. Back in the 2023/24 season against South Africa at North Sydney Oval, Sydney, the pair had put together a 77-run partnership. Gardner scored 35, while Garth made an unbeaten 42, helping Australia recover from another tricky position.
Before that, the record belonged to England’s Laura-Rose Askew and Isa Guha, who had built a 73-run partnership against New Zealand in the 2006/07 season at Chennai’s IIT Chemplast Ground. Askew made 68, while Guha added 26.
Now, with Mooney and King’s fighting spirit, Australia have set a new benchmark of 106 runs for the ninth wicket, proving once again why they are considered one of the strongest sides in women’s cricket.
This record-breaking stand will be remembered not just for the numbers, but also for the context — coming at a time when Australia were under immense pressure and needed their lower-order to stand tall
