Simplicity the key to Molineux's star turn

Australia allrounder Sophie Molineux is putting her current red-hot form with the ball down to one small thing: simplicity.

After a debut one-day international series that saw the 20-year-old Victorian collect 6-39 from 26 overs, Molineux produced a match-winning turn with the ball in Thursday's first T20I against Pakistan in Malaysia, capturing 4-16.

The left-arm spinner struck in each of her four overs, first deceiving Muneeba Ali who was stumped by Alyssa Healy in the first over of the hosts' chase, before she caught Pakistan captain Javeria Khan off her own bowling.

When opener Nahida Khan was charging towards a half-century in the 11th over, Molineux was again thrown the ball by skipper Meg Lanning and took just three balls to produce the desired result, bowling the 31-year-old for 43.

She then put the icing on a match-winning performance when she had Aliya Riaz stumped in the 19th over.

"I think I've just trying to keep it simple over here," Molineux said following Australia's 64-run win.

"The spinners have been doing well, I've just been trying to hit the stumps.

"I've been having some really good conversation with (assistant coach) Shelley Nitschke.

"You have to change your pace and be patient, even though it's T20 cricket, so I was trying to bowl to my strengths and it worked out today.

"But T20s are a funny game and the next game could be completely different."

Molineux has thriving with the added responsibility of bowling in the power play and at the death in the absence of fellow left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who is recuperating from knee surgery.

Jonassen has been included in Australia's squad for next month's World T20 tournament in the Caribbean and was due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to link up with her teammates.

The Queenslander was included in the 15-player group pending fitness and at the time, national selector Shawn Flegler said the plan was to have Jonassen return for two warm-up matches in early November – something that will no doubt cause headaches for Australia's selectors.

"I'm really impressed with Sophie and when JJ does come back, there's going to be some really tough selections because we've got a bowling group in really good form," Australia coach Matthew Mott noted earlier this month.

Molineux, who captured plenty of attention with her performances for the Melbourne Renegades across the past two summers, only made her international debut during Australia's tour of India in March.

But the Bairnsdale product has immediately looked at home at the highest level, remaining calm under pressure when the game's biggest hitters are lining her up – and delivering on the potential former Australia coach John Harmer noticed in her as a young teenager.

Harmer, who oversaw a golden era for the green and gold from 1992-2000 that included the 1997 Women's World Cup victory and who coached the lines of Belinda Clark, Karen Rolton and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, mentored Molineux through her teenage years after spotting her potential.

"She was an Australian player at 13. I said, 'This girl can go anywhere'," Harmer explained to cricket.com.au earlier this year.

"You just see her and think, she can go places. I'm really enjoying watching her do what she's doing."

Australia will meet Pakistan in the second of three T20Is at Kuala Lumpur's Kinrara Academy Stadium on Saturday at 6pm local time (9pm AEDT).

The Pakistan Cricket Board will live stream the match, while live scores will be available on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

CommBank Tour of Malaysia

Australia T20 & World T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Pakistan T20 squad: Javeria Khan (c), Bibi Nahida, Ayesha Zafar, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Nida Rashid, Sidra Nawaz, Sana Mir, Nashra Sundhu, Anum Amin, Natalia Parvaiz, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Aiman Anwar

October 25: Australia won the first T20 by 64 runs

October 27: Second T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

October 29: Third T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

November 9: Australia v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana

November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium

November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground