Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh displayed their imperios ball-striking skills, helping India Women tie scores with Australia in a run-chase of 188, and then clinch the Super Over, on an eventful eve at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday, December 11. The win helped the hosts draw 1-1 level in the five-match series, and with it, hand the top-ranked side the first defeat of the year.
With India needing 14 off the final over bowled by Megan Schutt, Devika Vaidya managed a thick outside edge on the second ball, with a pair of singles and a brace thereafter bringing it down to five required off the last ball. Vaidya managed to squeeze a wide yorker between short third-man and point for a boundary, meaning that the capacity crowd of over 45,000 would be treated to a Super Over contest.
Wicketkeeper Ghosh, who had stroked an unbeaten 26 off 13 in actual play, smashed Heather Graham for a six on the first ball of the tie-breaker, before being dismissed caught and bowled on the second. Mandhana then took over, striking a four and a six and managed three off the final ball to help India set a 21-run target.
Alyssa Healy started off with a four to keep Australia in hunt, but Ashleigh Gardener was caught brilliantly by Radha Yadav at straightish long-off on the third ball, putting India in ascendancy. Renuka Singh held her nerve thereafter, as Australia finished 16/1.
Earlier, it was Mandhana’s enterprising 79 that kept India in the contest in a stiff chase. The India vice-captain added 76 in 8.4 overs with fellow opener Shafali Verma (34 off 23), and another 61 for the third wicket with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. The latter two’s quick dismissal in the closing stages brought Australia back in the contest, but Richa smashed three timely sixes in a timely cameo to help India close in. Mandhana’s 49-ball stay featured nine hits to the fence and four over it.
Australia’s batting effort was all about a dominant top-order show, as had been the case in their thumping nine-wicket win in the series opener on Friday. Healy dominated a 29-run opening stand with a brisk 25 off 15, that featured five boundaries, before being dismissed by Deepti Sharma in an attempt for the sixth, smashing an aerial square cut straight to Vaidya at short third-man.
There was no success for Indian bowlers thereafter, with Beth Mooney (82* off 54) and Tahila McGrath (70* off 51) batting through to power the visitors to 187/1 in the allotted 20 overs. Mooney struck 13 fours, while McGrath managed 10 to go with a maximum on a day when only Deepti went at less than eight an over of the six bowlers used by India.
“When they were batting, I realised it was an amazing wicket, I had my eyes on a big score. Didn’t want to make the same mistake as the last innings. Happy to see such wickets prepared for women’s cricket, you’ll get high scores, high run chases. I think this is one of the most entertaining games we’ve all been a part of,”
said Mandhana, who was adjudged the Player of the Match.
The third T20I will be played at the same venue on Wednesday..
Brief scores
Australia women 187/1 in 20 overs (Mooney 82*, McGrath 70*) tied with India women 187/5 in 20 overs (Mandhana 79, Varma 34; Graham 3/22) – India won the Super Over
