Star batter Beth Mooney struck a magnificent hundred and led a remarkable Australian fightback alongside tailender Alana King, propelling the defending champions to a dominant 107-run victory over their opponents in Colombo on Wednesday. Opting to bat first, Australia suffered a top-order collapse and were reduced to 76/7 in the 22nd over, with the opposition's spinners, led by Nashra Sandhu (3/37), wreaking havoc. At one point, it seemed the Australian innings would fall short of 150, but Mooney (109 off 114 balls) steadied the ship with her fifth ODI century and first World Cup ton.

She formed a record-breaking partnership of 106 runs for the ninth wicket with King (51 not out from 49 balls), lifting Australia to 221 for 9.

Following the heroics of Mooney and King, Australian bowlers, spearheaded by Kim Garth (3/14), Annabel Sutherland (2/15), and Megan Schutt (2/25), dismissed their opponents for just 114 in 36.3 overs to seal their second win of the tournament.

Australia had previously beaten New Zealand in their opening match, while the second game against Sri Lanka was abandoned due to rain.

For their opponents, this was their third consecutive loss following defeats to India and Bangladesh.

Chasing 222, the opposition began disastrously, losing five wickets for 31 runs by the ninth over, with pacers Kim Garth and Megan Schutt claiming three and two wickets, respectively. They were never truly in the chase, with only four batters reaching double digits.

Garth made the initial breakthrough, dismissing opener Sadaf Shamas (5) in the third over, and from there, it was a procession for the opposition batters to the dressing room.

One down, Sidra Amin (35) provided some resistance. She and Captain Fatima Sana survived for a while before the latter was dismissed for 11.

With six wickets down for 49 in the 13th over, the chase was as good as over. Sidra's departure in the 22nd over sealed their fate.

Earlier, the spotlight was firmly on Mooney after Australia's early collapse.

Coming in at 30 for 2, Mooney watched wickets fall around her. Undeterred, she went about her innings with composure, crafting one of her most memorable knocks.

She struck 11 fours off 114 balls for her 109, with the second-best Australian score coming from No. 10, King.

The partnership between Mooney and King marked the highest stand for the ninth or lower wicket in women's ODIs, surpassing the previous best of 76 runs between Ashleigh Gardner and Kim Garth for Australia against South Africa in 2024.

Australia were 83 for seven at the halfway mark, adding 138 runs for the loss of just two wickets thereafter.

On a slow, turning pitch, many of Australia's top-order batters were guilty of poor shot selection and lack of application, though the opposition did well in the field, taking some crucial catches with superb efforts.

Australia lost Healy in the seventh over, followed by Phoebe Litchfield just three balls later, both for 30. The opposition made an excellent start with the ball.

Australia's troubles continued as the ball began to turn. Sandhu accounted for the key wickets of Ellyse Perry (5) and Annabel Sutherland (1).

Ashleigh Gardner, who had scored a century against New Zealand, fell to a delivery from Shamim, chipping it straight to midwicket.

The defending champions were in dire straits at 60 for five in the 16th over, having lost three wickets for just five runs.

The collapse continued as Tahlia McGrath and Georgia Wareham were dismissed in the space of five balls for just one run between them.