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Australia Women registered a nail-biting victory against India Women in the second ODI at the Wankhede Stadium, prevailing by a slender margin of three runs. This hard-fought win not only intensified the rivalry between the cricketing giants but also solidified the guests’ dominance, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
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:
Richa Ghosh's valiant effort goes in vain!#cricket #INDvAUS #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/IJqqMEF4v1
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) December 31, 2023
Annabel Sutherland brings back memories of Ellyse Perry bowling and winning it for Australia when she had just started #INDvsAUS
— K (@krthiak) December 30, 2023
Well played, ladies! A fantastic victory indeed. Congratulations to the team on sealing the ODI series against India. #INDvAUS 🏏
— Rana Muhibullah (@iam_RMK_) December 30, 2023
Well Played Richa Ghosh#INDvAUS #RakulPreetSingh #12thFail #AmitabhBachchan#Aishu #31stdecember#AyeshaKhan #Vijayakanth
— Jagbir Chahal (@JagbirChahal6) December 31, 2023
Highest Individual Scores by Wicketkeepers while Chasing in Losing Cause of WODIs
117 : Lizelle Lee 🇿🇦 vs 🏴, 2018
𝟵𝟲 : Richa Ghosh 🇮🇳 vs 🇦🇺, 2023**
74 : Rachel Priest 🇳🇿 vs 🏝️, 2014
72 : Trisha Chetty 🇿🇦 vs 🏴, 2011#INDvAUS #INDWvsAUSW #INDWvAUSW— Kishan Kishor (@itskishankishor) December 31, 2023
Sorry to say but deepti Sharma cost match yesterday.
Not a penny against her bowling but her batting in white ball cricket is just digged down so deep.#INDvAUS— Dr.Karan Desai (@Dr_DesaiKaran) December 31, 2023
For the last one year I saw stats of white ball which showed that Deepti Sharma does not know how to bat. She bowled so many times and got wickets that forgot batting, and what makes her an All Rounder & sending her at No.6 in batting is beyond my understanding. #INDvAUS
— Kishan Kishor (@itskishankishor) December 31, 2023
Everyone blaming Deepti sharma but what about Harmanpreet kaur performance in this series 🙄🙄#INDvAUS #DeeptiSharma#richaghosh #Harmanpreetkaur #1DayToBirthmonth pic.twitter.com/MFHe0VFR0E
— little kaka (@littlekaka28) December 31, 2023
That series-winning feeling for Australia ✨#INDvAUS scorecard: https://t.co/4xBa9NLR0c pic.twitter.com/8HFplSgk86
— ICC (@ICC) December 30, 2023