Young India batsmen Yastika Bhatia and Shafali Verma dazzled at the top with opposite half-centuries to give their team a consolation two-wicket win over Australia in the third women’s ODI, ending the home team’s 26-match unbeaten streak at Mackay in September. done. 26.
The visitors, after winning the three-match series in their previous outing, completed a difficult chase of 265 runs in the final over, gaining some lost ground ahead of the upcoming day/night Test.
The result meant that Australia’s record-breaking winning run ended on 26.
Chasing a challenging target, India got the start they needed, with Verma (56) and Smriti Mandhana (22) putting on a 59-run stand in just 11 overs for the opening wicket.
Some time ago, Ashley Gardner broke this partnership by getting Mandhana caught by Annabel Sutherland after scoring a brilliant half-century.
Bhatia (64) joined Verma in the middle and the two formed a good partnership and worked well without any difficulty.
After 25 overs, India were comfortably bundled out for 131 for one, with the visiting batsmen hitting a boundary in every over.
Known for her independent game, the 17-year-old Verma had made a conscious decision to bat deep but battling with back pain and exhaustion, the Rohtak teenager gave up after completing her maiden half-century. The format, off 86 balls, ended a fruitful 101 run association with Bhatia.
Playing only in her third ODI, the 21-year-old Bhatia was a target chaser and completed her maiden half-century off 56 balls.
Bhatia added 14 more runs to her total before substitute fielder Molly Strano changed the color of the game with a brilliant catch at the boundary.
Attempting a pull shot, Bhatia ends a Stella Campbell delivery over the top and Strano completes a diving catch at deep backward square-leg.
The Indian batsman also got relief even before reaching the half-century, but she could not take full advantage of it.
It was a big blow for India, who came back after that dismissal, having done so in the first half of their innings, suddenly finding it difficult to score.
Richa Ghosh fell for a duck for Sutherland before the medium pacer went through the gap between the bat and pad of Pooja Vastrakar to leave India in a troubled spot at 192 for five.
Skipper Mithali Raj broke the ties with a welcome maximum off Stella Campbell with just six runs off 20 balls, but the veteran also succumbed to the pressure created by the increasing asking rate as he was bowled by Sutherland When he tried to play an unusual shot.
However, Sneh Rana (30) and Deepti Sharma (31) quickly added 33 crucial runs in the order, which was enough for those following them to see the team.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers let Australia off the hook again as the home team recovered from a competitive score of 264 for nine.
The hosts made 87 for four in the 25th over and shared a 98-run partnership between Ashleigh Gardner (67) and last match centurion Beth Mooney (52).
Tahlia McGrath played a quick innings of 47 runs in 32 balls.
For India, medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar finished with figures of 3/46 while veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami took 3 for 37.
Electing to bat after winning the toss at Harrup Park, Australia got off to a slow start as the comebacks Rachel Haynes (13) and Alyssa Healy (35) put on 41 runs for the first wicket in 8.1 overs.
After a heart-wrenching defeat in the second ODI, Goswami provided an early breakthrough when he caught Haynes at mid-off while the batsman tried to play over one.
India rejoiced again after four balls as Goswami’s graceful delivery prompted skipper Meg Lanning to drive off wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh.
Australia lost two more wickets before the recovery began.
Scoreboard:
India
Shafali Verma b Molineux 56 Smriti Mandhana c Sutherland b Gardner 22 Yastika Bhatia c Sab b Campbell 64 Richa Ghosh c Gardner b Sutherland 0 Mithali Raj b Sutherland 16 Pooja Vastrakar b Sutherland 3 Deepti Sharma c Carey b McGrath 31 Sneh Rana c Sab b Carey 30 Jhulan Goswami not out 8 Meghna Singh not out 2
Excessive: (LB-2 NB-1 W-31) 34
Total: (for 8 wickets in 49.3 overs) 266
Fall of wickets: 1/59 2/160 3/161 4/180 5/192 6/208 7/241 8/259
Bowling: Ellyse Perry 5-0-34-0, Tahlia McGrath 6-0-46-1, Sophie Molineux 9.3-1-41-1, Ashley Gardner 6-0-30-1, Stella Campbell 9-1-41-1, Nicola Carey 7-0-42-1, Annabel Sutherland 7-0-30-3.
Australia
Rachel Haynes c Shafali Verma b Goswami 13 Alyssa Healy run out 35 Meg Lanning c Richa Ghosh b Goswami 0 Ellyse Perry c Deepti Sharma b Pooja Vastrakar 26 Beth Mooney b Sneh Rana 52 Ashley Gardner c Mithali b Pooja Vastrakar 67 Tahlia McGrath Richa Ghosh b Pooja Dresser 47 Nicola Carey not out 12 Annabel Sutherland c Deepti Sharma b Goswami 0 Sophie Molyneux run out 1 Stella Campbell not out 0
Excessive: (B-1, Lb-3, W-6, Nb-1) 11
Total: 264/9 in 50 overs
Fall of wickets: 41-1, 41-2, 62-3, 87-4, 185-5, 224-6, 260-7, 261-8, 263-9
Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 10-2-37-3, Meghna Singh 6-0-37-0, Rajeshwari Gaikwad 9-1-38-0, Sneh Rana 9-1-56-1, Deepti Sharma 7-0-46-0, Pooja Vastrakar 9-1-463-0.
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