The Australian women haven’t won a cricket World Cup for three years. That ought to sound a bit strange still.

It is a bit like saying Meryl Streep hasn’t come up with a sensational performance for a while. Her brilliance is taken for granted. Like the success of Australia in women’s cricket.

Such is the sheer talent and depth in the women’s game Down Under. Of late, other teams have caught up with them in international cricket. But Australia looks the side to beat at the T20 Women’s World Cup.

After crushing South Africa, one of the best teams in the tournament in the opening match by 65 runs, Sophie Molineux’s women were expected to have it easy against Bangladesh in their Group A clash. It surely was.

Australia came up with a clinical performance under helpful bowling conditions to restrict Bangladesh to 77 for eight and then chased down that modest target in under 10 overs. That should help the Net Run Rate, if it comes to that in what is the more difficult of the two groups.

The seaming duo of Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry attacked the stumps at the right length to make life difficult for Bangladesh, for which only skipper Nigar Sultana (27, 47b, 2x4) offered some resistance. The chase was led by the World No. 1 batter Georgia Voll (45 n.o., 32b, 6x4, 1x6).

It should also be mentioned Australia was without Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner. That double injury blow hardly mattered.

The scores: Group A: Bangladesh 77/8 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 27, Kim Garth 2/18, Sophie Molineux 2/14, Ellyse Perry 2/14) lost to Australia 78/1 in 9.3 overs (Georgia Voll 45 n.o.). Toss: Australia; PoM: Perry.