Harmanpreet Kaur-led India went 1-0 down in the Australia ODI series opener, courtesy of a humbling 8-wicket defeat. Multiple lapses and dropped catches cost dearly for the home side in the previous encounter.
Women in Blue dealt a massive blow to their comeback aspirations ahead of the 2nd ODI as the stylish middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out of the remainder of the Australia series due to a viral fever. Tejal Hasabnis replaced her in the squad.
Both sides made a couple of changes to their side. Renuka Singh Thakur returned to the side after a long injury layoff. She replaced Sree Charani. Arundhati Reddy stepped in for Jemimah Rodrigues for the home side. The visitors rested Phoebe Litchfield, handing an opportunity to Georgia Voll at the top of the order. The inclusion of Darcie Brown for Kim Garth bolstered the pace attack for Australia.
Smriti Mandhana’s 117 powers India to their highest total against Australia
The Indian openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana continued from where they left, in their previous game, putting the Aussie new ball bowlers to the sword with a 70-run opening stand, a partnership that gradually shifted gears after skipper Alyssa Healy opted to bowl first on winning the toss.
Ashleigh Gardner’s introduction worked in the visitors’ favour as she succeeded in breaking another impressive opening stand by sending Pratika Rawal (25 off 32 balls) back to the pavilion in the 12th over of the innings, providing the first breakthrough for Australia. Harleen Deol partnered with Smriti Mandhana, and the pair took India closer to the 120-run mark, with a 49-run stand for the 2nd wicket. Lack of clear communication resulted in an unfortunate run-out ending Harleen Deol’s scratchy stay at the crease (10 off 24 balls) in the 19th over of the innings.
Just when India looked set to launch an onslaught, the Alyssa Healy-led side managed to manufacture a breakthrough to keep the scoring rate under check. Regular strikes ensured the home side had to switch back to the first gear. Smriti Mandhana, on the other end, continued to take the attack to the Australian bowlers, making sure the scoreboard kept ticking at a brisk rate in the middle overs, courtesy of substantial partnerships.
Smriti Mandhana notched up her 12th century off just 77 balls, the 2nd fastest by an Indian in the format. She also equaled England’s Tammy Beaumont with the joint 3rd most centuries in the format. The Australian vice-captain, Tahlia McGrath, proved to be the golden arm who managed to end the Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s ominous vigil (117 off 91 balls) at the crease in the 33rd over of the innings, providing the much-needed 4th breakthrough for Australia.
Wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh joined Deepti Sharma at the crease, and the duo took the innings deeper with another crucial 47-run partnership for the 5th wicket, taking India closer to the 250-run mark. Richa Ghosh (29 off 33 balls) gifted away her wicket to Annabel Sutherland in the 42nd over of the innings to provide the 5th breakthrough for the visitors.
An innings that looked poised to easily breach the 300-run mark, folded on 292 with a ball to spare. Handy cameos from Sneh Rana (24 off 18 balls) and Deepti Sharma (40 off 53 balls) gave India their highest total against Australia in the format. Darcie Brown (8-0-42-3), Ashleigh Gardner (10-1-39-2), and Annabel Sutherland (10-1-58-1) were impressive with the ball. Megan Schutt (7.5-0-46-1) wrapped up the Indian innings.
Krant Goud and Deepti Sharma hand Australia their heaviest ODI defeat
Defending a total of 293, the Indian new-ball bowlers Kranti Goud and Renuka Singh removed both the Australian openers inside the powerplay. Beth Mooney joined Ellyse Perry, and the duo led the recovery with a much-needed 50-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Sneh Rana broke the stand, by sending Beth Mooney (18 off 34 balls), after a couple of missed opportunities in the field, to provide a crucial 3rd breakthrough for the home side in the 17th over of the run chase.
With brisk partnerships of 46 runs for the 4th wicket between Annabel Sutherland and Ellyse Perry (44 off 61 balls), followed by a 26-run partnership for the 5th wicket between Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner (17 off 29 balls), kept Australia on track in the run chase.
The departure of Annabel Sutherland (45 off 42 balls) in the 30th over of the run chase triggered a collapse, as Australia were eventually bundled out for 190, with 55 balls to spare, losing their last five wickets for just 56 runs, falling short of the target by 102 runs. It is also the heaviest margin of defeat for Australia in terms of runs in the ODI format.
Darcie Brown (14* off 13 balls) displayed her batting credentials towards the end. Kranti Goud (9.5-1-28-3), Deepti Sharma (6-0-24-2), and Renuka Singh (6.3-0-28-1) displayed a spirited performance with the ball for India. Sneh Rana (6-0-35-1) and Radha Yadav (5-0-27-1) played their part with the ball for the home side.
Smriti Mandhana was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational match-winning innings with the bat (117 off 91 balls), setting a solid platform for India’s series-levelling win. Her knock included 14 boundaries and 4 maximums. The ODI series moves into the decider on 20th September 2025 in Delhi.
