At the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday, India put up a dominant all-around display to defeat Australia by 102 runs and tie the three-match series 1-1. Smriti Mandhana’s outstanding 117 and the six bowling options available to them were key factors.
Smriti hammered 117 off 91 balls, the second-fastest century by an Indian hitter in women’s ODIs, as India amassed 292 in 49.5 overs after being asked to bat first. In addition, it was her third century versus Australia and her 12th ODI.
A score of more than 320 was possible at one point, but Australia’s bowlers, spearheaded by Darcie Brown’s 3-42, rallied in the closing stages. However, the tally was more than enough as India’s bowlers, led by Kranti Goud’s 3-28, thoroughly and accurately destroyed the visitors.
Ellyse Perry managed to score 44 and Annabel Sutherland top-scored with 45, but it was in vain as Australia was bowled out for 190 in 40.5 overs, their biggest loss in terms of runs margin in women’s ODIs, exceeding their 1973 World Cup final loss to England by 92 runs.
With all six bowlers among the wickets, India’s strategic choice to field them paid off handsomely. The massive victory also ended the visitors’ 13-match winning streak in the format and marked India’s first home ODI victory against Australia since February 2007 in Chennai.
Playing an ODI for the first time since December 2024, Renuka Singh Thakur made a quick start by dismissing Georgia Voll for a duck, while Kranti dismissed Alyssa Healy for nine. Australia’s 10-over total in ODIs after the 2017 World Cup was limited to just 25 runs in the Power-play.
Even though India had a brief scare, the pressure increased when Sneh Rana caught Beth Mooney for eighteen. Due to an injury, Renuka left the field in the middle of the over, and Arundhati Reddy took over to finish the period. Ellyse and Annabel put up a brief fight with a 46-run partnership, but Australia’s wickets kept falling.
Arundhati removed Annabel and then held her third catch of the innings to dismiss Tahlia McGrath off Deepti’s bowling, while Radha Yadav dismissed Ellyse with a diving caught-and-bowled. With two wickets, including the dismissal of Ashleigh Gardner for 17, Deepti contributed.
With a run-out of Alana King and Megan Schutt falling to a quick reflex catch by Kranti, Australia’s chase came to a further standstill. Kranti appropriately completed the victory by dismissing Georgia Wareham with a precise yorker, setting up a series finale on Saturday in New Delhi.
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