On Wednesday, India’s women’s cricket team played an amazing game in Mullanpur, winning by 102 runs and tying the three-match ODI series against Australia. India’s success came thanks to a stunning century from star opener Smriti Mandhana and a team effort that gave the powerful Australians their biggest loss in ODI cricket history.
Smriti Mandhana owned the day. She came out swinging from the outset. The left-handed batter hit an amazing 117 runs off just 91 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. Her innings were the second-fastest ODI century by an Indian woman, which shows how well she was playing. This attack pushed India to a dominant total of 292, which is their biggest score ever against Australia.
Mandhana was the star of the show, but youthful Pratika Rawal helped her out by scoring 25 runs in a 70-run opening partnership. After Mandhana was out, though, the scoring rate went down a little. After that, it was up to the middle order to keep the momentum continuing. Deepti Sharma (40) and Richa Ghosh (29) were in charge. Sneh Rana’s important 24 runs off of just 18 balls helped bring the total close to 300 runs at the end.
Australia’s usually strong batting lineup never got into a flow as they tried to chase down a tough goal of 293. India’s bowlers and fielders were on the ball from the start, keeping the visitors to just 25 runs for 2 wickets in the first 10 overs. Renuka Thakur set the tone early by getting Georgia Voll out for a duck in the second over. Kranti Goud then got an important wicket, getting the threatening Alyssa Healy out for just 9 runs.
Ellyse Perry (44) and Annabel Sutherland (45) tried to stabilize the innings after losing important wickets early on by forming partnerships of 50 and 46 runs, respectively. But the pressure from the increased needed run rate became too high. Deepti Sharma and Kranti Goud worked together to keep Australia under continual pressure while bowling. Goud was the best bowler, with great numbers of 3 for 28 in 9.5 overs. Deepti Sharma wasn’t far behind, as she took two important wickets that broke Australia’s back.
India’s fielding was also good, even though they dropped a few catches. Radha Yadav caught Perry’s fast return, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur caught Sutherland’s great grab at cover, leaving Australia in big danger at 134 for 5. The Australian lower order fell apart, and the Indian bowling assault was too strong, knocking them out for 190 runs in 40.5 overs.
This amazing win by 102 runs is the first time in history that the seven-time World Cup winners have lost an ODI by 100 runs or more. The outcome not only ties the series at 1-1, but it also sends a strong statement two weeks before the 13th World Cup.
The last ODI, which will be held in New Delhi on September 20, will decide the series.