Australia’s commendable run with the bat
Aussie skipper Alyssa Healy, after winning the toss, chose to bat and opened alongside Phoebe Litchfield. Despite a shaky start with missed opportunities by the hosts, Healy fell to a brilliant delivery by Pooja Vastrakar for 13 runs. The recovery, however, was orchestrated by Ellyse Perry and Litchfield, who established a solid partnership for the second wicket. Perry notched up her second consecutive fifty before being dismissed by Deepti Sharma for 50, breaking their 77-run stand. Litchfield continued to shine, reaching her fifty despite India bowled tightly in the middle overs.
Beth Mooney departed for 10, and despite a brief partnership between Tahlia McGrath and Litchfield, the latter fell for 63, granting Shreyanka Patil her maiden ODI wicket. Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham added 36 runs, but Wareham departed for 22 and Sutherland for 23. Alana King and Kim Garth remained unbeaten with scores of 28 and 11, guiding Australia Women to 258 runs after their 50 overs.
India fell slightly short of the target
Chasing their target, the opening duo of Yastika Bhatia (14) and Smriti Mandhana (34) contributed 37 runs for the first wicket before Garth ended the partnership in the 7th over. Mandhana then paired with Richa Ghosh, adding 34 for the second wicket before King dismissed Mandhana. Despite a sluggish start, Ghosh showcased resilience, forming an 88-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 55).
Despite Harmanpreet Kaur‘s brief stint (5 off ten balls), Ghosh battled cramps and reached her 50 in 74 balls. However, her impressive knock of 96 off 117 deliveries, featuring 13 boundaries, couldn’t secure victory as Sutherland’s crucial wickets and tight bowling by Wareham (2/39) sealed Australia’s 3-run win. The Indian lower middle order drastically faltered in the last phase, unable to score the required 16 off the final over.
Also READ: India Women vs Australia Women 2023-24, ODI series: Broadcast, Live Streaming details: When and where to watch in India, USA, Australia & other countries
Here is how Twitter reacted:
That series-winning feeling for Australia#INDvAUS scorecard: https://t.co/4xBa9NLR0c pic.twitter.com/8HFplSgk86
— ICC (@ICC) December 30, 2023
Also WATCH: Sneh Rana takes a screamer to dismiss Alyssa Healy in 1st Women’s ODI – IND vs AUS 2023-24
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.