Injuries soured an otherwise dominant day for Australia as they cruised to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan to move to the brink of semi-final qualification.
There was an early blow for Australia in the game as they lost pace bowler Tayla Vlaeminck to a shoulder injury picked up in the field.
But the depleted Australian bowling attack nevertheless proved tough for Pakistan to handle, as they took a stranglehold on the Group A contest.
Ashleigh Gardner returned excellent figures of 4/21, while there were also wickets for Georgia Wareham 2/16, Megan Schutt 1/7, Sophie Molineux 1/19 and Annabel Sutherland 2/15.
Only four Pakistan batters reached double figures, with Aliya Riaz top-scoring with a defiant 26 (off 32 balls) from number six.
And the chase was a cakewalk for Australia, who reached 83/1 to win in just 11 overs.
Alyssa Healy top scored with 37*, although the captain retired hurt after picking up an injury when running for a quick single.
Healy hobbles and retires hurt in Pakistan chase | WT20WC 2024
Healy hobbles and retires hurt in Pakistan fixture | WT20WC 2024
Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
And the defending champions picked up two wickets in the powerplay to restrict Pakistan to 23/2 in the opening six overs.
WATCH: Powerplay double strike keeps Pakistan in check
Muneeba Ali was the first to go, lofting a catch to Phoebe Litchfield off Sophie Molineux for 7, and Sadaf Shamas soon joined her back in the dugout, caught behind off Megan Schutt for 3.
There was a setback for Australia though, with Tayla Vlaeminck forced from the field due to an injury she picked up off just the fourth ball of the innings.
Unfortunate injury forces Vlaeminck off the field
Unfortunate injury forces Vlaeminck off the field | WT20WC 2024
Australia showed their impressive depth in quality as they picked up two further wickets with their change bowlers.
All-rounder Annabel Sutherland had opener Sidra Amin (12) trapped in-front, and Georgia Wareham removed Omaima Sohail (3) to leave Pakistan four down and in need of something special to build a competitive score.
WATCH: Aliya Riaz gives Pakistan impetus
Aliya Riaz takes charge to give Pakistan impetus | WT20WC 2024
Pakistan’s resistance appeared all-but over when Nida Dar (10) was stumped by Healy off Wareham, but Aliya Riaz had other ideas, taking the game long.
A three-wicket over from Gardner left Pakistan on the brink, and Sutherland finished the job as Riaz was finally dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings for 26.
Gardner triple strike stings Pakistan tail
Openers Healy and Beth Mooney got Australia’s chase off to a flier, with a flurry of boundaries eating into the target inside the powerplay.
The impressive Sadia Iqbal struck to remove Mooney for a run-a-ball 15, but Australia had reached 46/1 after six overs, already halfway to the winning number.
WATCH: Australia openers unleash a spate of boundaries in modest chase
Healy (37* from 23) was given a reprieve when she was dropped in the outfield by Sandhu, and looked set to take advantage by steering her team to victory.
But the Australian skipper pulled up in the process of running a single off the first ball of the tenth over and was forced to retire hurt, leaving the field in clear discomfort.
Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner finished the job, reaching the target with nine overs to spare, meaning Australia are all-but guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals.
WATCH: The winning moment for Australia
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