The second One-Day match between India A Women and Australia A Women in Brisbane turned into a gripping contest, with the visitors edging past the hosts by two wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Australia A Set a Competitive Target: 265/9
Batting first after winning the toss, Australia A posted 265/9 in their 50 overs. Opener Tahlia Wilson departed early for 8, but senior pro Alyssa Healy displayed her trademark class and aggression, scoring a brilliant 91 off 87 balls. She shared a valuable 58-run stand with Rachel Trenaman (24 off 30), steadying the innings after the early setback.
Skipper Tahlia McGrath (15) and Anika Learoyd (9) couldn’t convert their starts, but Ella Hayward (28) and Kim Garth (41* off 45) built a crucial 38-run partnership to keep the scoreboard moving. Georgia Prestwidge’s late cameo of 18 off 9 balls pushed the total past 260.
For India A, Minnu Mani led the bowling attack with 3/46, supported by Saima Thakor (2/30). Tanuja Kanwar, Prema Rawat, and Titas Sadhu chipped in with one wicket each.
India A’s Chase: From Pressure to Triumph
Chasing 266, India A suffered early blows. Shafali Verma was out for 4, and Dhara Gujjar fell for a duck, leaving the visitors under pressure. Yastika Bhatia anchored the innings with a composed 66 off 71 balls, combining fluent stroke play with smart running. Tejal Hasabnis (19) and Raghvi Bist (14) added short but useful contributions.
Captain Radha Yadav’s 60 off 78 balls was instrumental in keeping the chase alive. She forged a vital 68-run partnership with Tanuja Kanwar, shifting the momentum back in India’s favour. After Radha’s dismissal, Tanuja (50 off 57) and Prema Rawat (32* off 33) held their nerve, adding another crucial 68-run stand for the seventh wicket.
With two balls left in the penultimate over, Prema found the gap to take India past the target at 266/8 in 49.5 overs, sealing a memorable win.
Australia A’s bowlers kept the game alive till the end. Amy Edgar (2/55), Ella Hayward (2/57), and Georgia Prestwidge (2/68) took key wickets, but their inability to break the Kanwar–Rawat partnership proved costly.
Next Match for India A Women?
With this victory, India A Women have clinched the series 2-0, with one ODI still to play. The third and final match offers them a chance for a clean sweep, while Australia A will aim to end the series on a high.
India A’s ability to handle pressure and build match-winning partnerships highlights their growing depth, a promising sign ahead of the upcoming ODI Women’s World Cup.
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