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Posted: 2023-01-20 23:30:00

Beth Mooney has sounded an ominous warning to Australia's T20 World Cup rivals after her big-hitting century helped the hosts wrap up a 3-0 ODI series clean sweep over Pakistan.

After being sent in, Mooney monstered 133 from 105 balls to help Australia to a 101-run win at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, while Meg Lanning also hit 72.

The pair's runs helped Australia to 9-336, before Pakistan had its best day of the tour with the bat but still finished 7-235 at the end of its 50 overs.

The win completed an Australia whitewash and the world champions have now swept 11 of their past 12 bilateral ODI series.

With a T20 World Cup to be played in South Africa next month, Mooney's brutal display could not have come at a better time.

After hitting an unbeaten 57 in game two on Wednesday, Mooney was scratchy early but then unleashed on Pakistan's attack and in particular debutante leg-spinner Tuba Hassan.

The Queenslander hit Hassan for three straight sixes over the legside, one landing on the roof of the O'Reilly Stand and another bouncing off it and onto the road.

Another six off the spinner was down the ground while she brought up her third ODI hundred when she hit Hassan behind square for four.

It came after Mooney scored 16 from her first 37 balls, before striking 117 from her next 68.

Mooney was player of the tournament in Australia's T20 World Cup success, and will be crucial in the team's title defence.

She was not alone in handing out the punishment on Saturday as Hassan finished with 0-69 from six overs.

Lanning hit the 22-year-old into the window of the commentary box to bring up her 50.

Australia's captain was also clinical against the quicks, cutting the ball whenever she was offered any width as Pakistan's bowling waned after a tight start.

Her 72 is a good sign for Australia ahead this week's T20 series against Pakistan and looming World Cup, with the series her first since her five-month personal break.

Australia was less dominant with the ball than in the first two matches, giving up 25 wides.

Ash Gardner was the hosts' best with 3-30, bowling Sidra Amin (34) out of the rough and later going through Bismah Maroof on 44.

There was a moment of confusion with Nida Dar on 5, when she pulled away from a Tahlia McGrath delivery at the last moment and it cannoned into her stumps only for the ball to be called dead.

AAP

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