Australia beats Sri Lanka to begin defense of Women’s T20 World Cup and England wins

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Australia began its title defense at the Women’s T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Saturday.

England then defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs, handing the tournament host a second straight group loss and sending it to the verge of falling out of semifinals contention.

Sri Lanka could score only 93-7 as Australia medium-pacer Megan Schutt collected 3-12 in four overs and left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux took 2-20.

Beth Mooney led Australia's reply as it overhauled the total in only 14.2 overs. Australia was down to 35-3 at one stage but Mooney scored 43 not out off 38 balls to lead her side to victory.

Opting to bat, Sri Lanka suffered crucial early blows. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu was out lbw to Ashleigh Gardner for just 3.

Schutt and Molineux hit the top order hard as Sri Lanka was reduced to 25-3 in 6.4 overs.

The Asian champions were saved from some embarrassment by Nilakshi de Silva scoring 29 not out off 40 balls, and Harshitha Madavi's 23. They partnered for 31.

Australia’s top order struggled as well. Skipper Alyssa Healy was dismissed for 4 and Georgia Wareham was run out for 3.

When Sugandika Kumari bowled Ellyse Perry for 17 in the sixth over, there was some trouble.

But Mooney dug in deep, and found support from Gardner, who added 12. Together, they shared 43 off only 40 balls and sped up its chase.

Like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka has lost its opening two group matches and was nearly out of contention of advancing to the semis.

Later, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge led England by scoring 41 off 40 in their 118-7. Bangladesh could make only 97-7 despite Sobhana Mostary's 44 off 48.

Maia Bouchier gave England a good start with 23 off 18. She hit three fours and put on 48 off 40 balls for the opening stand with Wyatt-Hodge.

Bangladesh's spinners went to work and leg-spinner Fahima Khatun grabbed 2-18 in four overs, and left-armer Nahida Akter 2-32.

They removed the opening duo and Nat Sciver-Brunt for 2. Ritu Moni bowled Heather Knight for 6 and England was 76-4.

When Wyatt-Hodge, who struck five fours, fell in the 13th over — stumped off Aktar — England’s batting was unable to kick on.

Only Amy Jones (12) also reached double figures as England scored 42 runs off the last 47 deliveries.

Mostary's second 35-plus score in consecutive games propped up Bangladesh’s innings. She hit a four and a six.

But only one other batter reached double figures, Nigar Sultana's 15 off 20 balls. Her run out in the 12th over changed their course.

Sultana and Mostary rebuilt the innings from 17-2 in the fifth over by putting on 34.

Mostary held one end together and was last out, lbw, in the 19th over, but Bangladesh had already lost momentum in its chase.

Spinners Linsey Smith, 2-11, and Charlie Dean, 2-22, were suffocating.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Linsey Smith bowls during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Bangladesh at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England's Maia Bouchier bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Bangladesh at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England's Danni Wyatt plays a shot during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between England and Bangladesh at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu bowls during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Ellyse Perry plays a shot during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Ellyse Perry hits a four during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Sri Lanka's Harshitha Samarawickrama takes the catch to get wicket of Australia's Ashleigh Gardner during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Australia's Beth Mooney plays a shot during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Hanukkah — also spelled Chanukah or other transliterations from Hebrew — is Judaism’s “festival of lights.” On eight consecutive nightfalls, Jews gather with family and friends to light one additional candle in the menorah — a multibranched candelabra.

In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC, after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from occupying foreign forces.

With the tiny supply of ritually pure oil that they found in the temple, they lit the menorah — and it stayed lit for eight days. The ritual of lighting a nightly candle, as well as the emphasis on cooking foods in oil such as potato pancakes called latkes, memorialize this miraculously long-lasting oil.

The dates of the holiday are based on Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually coincides with November-December in the Gregorian calendar.

This year, Hanukkah will be celebrated from Dec. 25, 2024, through Jan. 2, 2025.

Jews across the religious observance spectrum — from Reform to Conservative to Orthodox — focus on the same theme of bringing light into the darkness and emphasizing that even a small, against-the-odds effort can have a transforming effect.

For this reason, even though the Talmud reflects a dispute over the order of lighting, most start with one candle and increase the lighting by one more candle each night while reciting or chanting special blessings.

The candles are added from right to left, but lit from left to right on the menorah, thus always starting with the newest light. The special menorah used for Hanukkah has eight branches, with a ninth place for the candle called shamash from which all others are lit.

The tradition calls for candles with a real flame, though some also use electric ones in public displays, such as in hospitals, for safety reasons.

A menorah is lit in each household and traditionally is placed where it can be seen from the outside, such as a doorway or windowsill, to symbolize the spreading of God’s light to all nations.

The lighting of menorahs in city streets and parks has become more prominent in recent years in countries around the world, including in front of public landmarks.

In addition to menorah lightings, giving to charity and social works are also part of the celebration for many, reflecting the belief that the Jewish people are called by God to help make the world better for all.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Rabbi Peter Tarlow lights a candle on a menorah during a Chicanukah event at Holocaust Museum Houston on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)