The opening two encounters of Australia A Women’s tour of India three-match T20 series have clearly demonstrated Australia A’s strength across all departments. In the series opener, Tess Flintoff’s lethal four-wicket spell restricted India A to a modest total, paving the way for a comfortable six-wicket victory for the visitors. The second T20 brought much of the same authority, with Katie Mack spearheading the batting unit courtesy of a match-winning 83* to help Australia A sweep past the target. India A’s top order has struggled to cope with Australia’s disciplined pace and sharp fielding standards, leaving them trailing 2-0 as they head into tomorrow’s third and final fixture.
With the series already out of reach, India A enters this clash with plenty to prove and pride on the line. Captain Anushka Sharma will look to lead from the front and urge her side to display more fight during the powerplay, where they have consistently fallen behind in the run rate. The middle order shows promise, with Nikki Prasad’s fighting half-century in the second game offering a blueprint for how to build an innings against this opposition. However, for India A to push for a breakthrough win, the top order must lay a stable platform rather than relying on late salvage jobs.
Australia A, on the other hand, enter the final T20 eyeing a clean sweep before moving on to the longer formats. Their top order looks in total control with Katie Mack anchoring the innings, while their deep bowling options—led by the stingy Tess Flintoff—continue to squeeze the runs in the middle overs. If India A cannot disrupt Australia A’s tactical discipline early with early wickets or quick boundary runs, the visitors look fully primed to round off a dominant 3-0 series victory in New Chandigarh.
Squads:
India A Women’s Cricket Team
Anushka Sharma (C), Sayali Satghare (VC), Simran Bahadur, Uma Chetry, Shipra Giri, Tejal Hasabnis, Jintimani Kalita, Tanuja Kanwar, Minnu Mani, Niki Prasad, Shweta Sehrawat, Shabnam Shakil, Sujata Dey, Vaishnavi Sharma, Dinesh Vrinda
Australia A Women’s Cricket Team
Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum (C), Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Milly Illingworth, Charli Knott, Anika Learoyd, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Frankie Nicklin, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Rachel Trenaman, Tayla Vlaeminck, Courtney Webb, Tahlia Wilson
Players to watch out:
Katie Mack
Katie Mack has been in sublime touch during the series, piling up 101 runs across 2 matches while remaining unbeaten in one. Striking at an explosive 134.66, her top score of 83* stands out as a masterclass in top-order pacing. With 14 boundaries already to her credit and an average of 101.00, she continues to provide Australia A with rock-solid starts at the top.
Tess Flintoff
Tess Flintoff has emerged as the chief strike bowler in the tournament, snaring 5 wickets across 2 matches while keeping things tight in her 7 overs. Her phenomenal, best bowling figures of 4/13 highlighted an exceptional spell of discipline and control. Operating at a frugal economy rate of 5.28 and a striking average of 7.40, she has given the opposition batters very little breathing room.
Nikki Prasad
Nikki Prasad has provided crucial stability in the middle order for India A, gathering 56 runs across 2 matches at an impressive average of 56.00. Her highlight knock of 54* brought composure under pressure, helped along by 6 fours and 2 clearing sixes. Striking at a healthy 147.36, her ability to accelerate makes her a key asset in the setup.
Anushka Sharma
Anushka Sharma has chipped in effectively with the ball in her limited outings, taking 2 wickets in 2 matches. Rolling her arm over for 2 overs in her single bowling stint, she returned neat figures of 2/14. Maintaining a solid economy rate of 7.00 and an average of 7.00, she has given her side crucial breakthroughs when called upon.
Pitch:
The conditions on offer see pace and bounce early for seamers before turning into a true batting surface. Spinners get modest grip in the middle overs, while evening dew typically favors chasing sides.
Weather:
Partly cloudy with a high of 33°C and low of 21°C, with a chance of little rain spells. The conditions promise a complete and uninterrupted game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Anushka Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Simran Bahadur, Uma Chetry, Shipra Giri, Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Charli Knott, Katie Mack
Match Details:
Date – September 17, 2026
Time – 6:00 PM IST
Venue – Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Broadcast – BCCI, Cricket.com.au
Loves all things female cricket