ISLAMABAD: The Australian women’s cricket team continued its dominance of Pakistan, producing an eight-wicket win at Brisbane’s Peter Burge Oval to go 3-0 up in their four-match One-day International series.

Having restricted Pakistan to 8 for 189 from their 50 overs, the Southern Stars set about chasing down the total with a minimum of fuss, Meg Lanning and Nicole Bolton starring for the home team with the bat. Player-of-the-match Bolton took to the Pakistan bowling from the start, scoring 81 not out from 93 balls, with Lanning joining her to hit a swashbuckling 78 from 77 deliveries as the Stars chased down the Pakistan total in just 33 overs.

While Bolton was the star for the Australians, some tight bowling earlier helped to set up their win.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, and things looked good for it early on, scoring 41 before the loss of their first wicket; thefirst of four 30-run partnerships.

But once the fourth wicket fell the middle and lower order collapsed. Pakistan’s last five wickets fell for just 38 runs as Rene Farrell (2-28) and spinner Jess Jonassen (3-37) tightened the screws with the ball. Pakistan’s best with the bat were opener Marina Iqbal (38) and Nain Abidi (43).

Prior to the start of the match Victorian leg-spinner Kristen Beams was presented with her first international cap by former Australian all-rounder Shelley Nitschke. Beams (1 for 26) went on to pick up the crucial wicket of Bismah Maroof (36), who is the leading run-scorer of the series. The final game is in Brisbane on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014