Australia Women defeated India in the second ODI game at Mackay courtesy of Beth Mooney’s century and contributions from Tahlia McGrath and Nicola Carey.
It was truly a ‘great escape’ as at one stage, Australia W were 52/4 while chasing a massive target of 275. Beth Mooney was the star for the hosts with her scintillating 125* off 133, while Tahlia McGrath and Nicola Carey played great supporting roles.
As it happened, Lanning won the toss and decided to field first. The Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma started the innings extremely well, adding 74 runs for the first wicket in just 11 overs. Sophie Molineux brought the much-needed breakthrough for the hosts as Shafali dragged on delivery onto the stumps on 22 off 23.
Captain Mithali walked out at no. 3 but sucked all the momentum out of the innings with her 8 off 23, before a huge mix up saw her run out by miles in the 17th over.
Yastika Bhatia, who was impressive in the first game, struggled to get going and eventually got out to a short delivery by Darcie Brown on 3 off 14 as the scoreboard read 95/3 in 19.4 overs.
Mandhana, meanwhile, had brought up her classy looking fifty off 56 balls. Richa Ghosh joined Mandhana in the middle and the duo scored at a brisk rate. They added 76 runs for the fourth wicket in just 12.3 overs to put India in a strong position.
But just when Mandhana’s century was in sight, she sliced a back of a length delivery straight to point – an exact replica of her dismissal in the first game. Smriti’s terrific knock of 86 off 94 included 11 boundaries. Ghosh played some stunning shots in her 44-run knock of 50 balls, before McGrath cleaned her up.
Deepti Sharma (23), Pooja Vastrakar (29) and Jhulan Goswami (28) took India to a strong total of 274/7 in 50 overs. McGrath was the pick of the bowlers for Australia with her 3/45 while Molineux was excellent with her 2/28.
Australia Women needed to chase down the highest target since the streak started to keep it alive. But the conditions were treacherous as the ball was hooping around under the lights. Goswami gave India a dream start, cleaning up Alyssa Healy with a good length delivery that nipped back in and beat Healy’s defence to hit the top of the middle. A three-ball duck for their tormentor!
Indian seamers bowled exceptionally well as the hosts managed only 8/1 in five overs. Lanning (6 off 21) tried to break the shackles in the sixth over and pulled a short ball by Meghna Singh only to top-edge it to deep square leg.
Ellyse Perry and Mooney tried to pick a tight single, which resulted in Perry (2 off 7) falling short by some distance, courtesy of a superb direct hit by Vastrakar. Australia had lost three of their biggest players and were reduced to 34/3 in 10 overs.
Ashleigh Gardner edged an outside off delivery to the slip on 12 off 24. With the scoreboard reading 52/4 in 16 overs, the match was firmly in India’s grip.
McGrath joined hands with Mooney and slowly started to rebuild the innings. McGrath played her natural game while Mooney was solid at the other end. McGrath scored her first international fifty off 57 balls, while Mooney brought her fifty off 81 balls. The M & M duo added a valuable stand of 123 runs for the fifth, bringing the equation to a manageable 100 off 12 overs.
India needed a wicket to turn things around, and they did get it. McGrath pulled a poor delivery by Deepti straight to fine leg as her sublime knock ended on 74 off 77 balls. The next batter in, Nicola Carey got off the blocks quickly. Carey and Mooney ran hard between the wickets and made full use of any fumbles by Indian fielders. The equation was 87 off the last 10 overs.
Mooney had changed her gears after her fifty and was scoring at a good rate. She brought up her magnificent century off 117 balls in the 46th over – scoring her second fifty in just 36 balls.
The hosts needed 13 off the last over. The final over was full of drama! Goswami bowled a beamer to Carey straight into the grill when 8 were needed off 4. Needing five off 2, the duo ran another double.
3 off the last delivery, and Goswami bowled a full toss that Carey hit straight to midwicket as Indians erupted in joy. But hold on! The third umpire checked it for a waist-high no-ball and after countless replays, called it in Australia’s favour. 2 needed off the last ball, and Carey hit it down to long on. The duo ran for their life and completed a double to claim a victory for the ages.
Mooney batted full fifty overs and was rightfully named the ‘Player of the match’ for her incredible effort. Carey made a valuable contribution of 39* off 38 in a memorable victory.
Brief Scores
India Women – 274/7 in 50 overs (Mandhana 86, Ghosh 44; McGrath 3/43, Molineux 2/28)
Australia Women – 275/5 in 50 overs (Mooney 125*, McGrath 74; Singh 1/38, Goswami 1/40) won by 5 wickets.
