The strong Australian A women team has managed to whitewash the Indian A team in their own backyard. The Australians won all the 3 ODI matches by 91 runs, 4 wickets and 5 wickets respectively. While chasing in the last 2 games, the Aussies managed to win comprehensively with 57 and 33 balls remaining in the match.
Choosing to bat first in the first ODI, the Aussies managed to put on 271 runs with Tahlia McGrath topping the scoreboard with 58 runs. She was well supported in the middle order by Heather Graham (48), Stalenberg (47) and skipper Strano (37*). Preeti Bose was the most successful bowler for India A with 3 wickets.
Needing 272 to win, the Indian A team was bundled out for 180 runs with Preeti Bose starring with the bat as well scoring an unbeaten 62 in 80 balls. Skipper Strano picked up 3 wickets (8-23-3). Sammy-Jo Johnson, Lauren Cheatle and Maitlan Brown picked up 2 wickets each. Shikha Pandey played a useful hand by scoring 42 runs in 54 deliveries.
In the second ODI, India A skipper Punam Raut was the star with the bat and scored 64 runs in 99 balls. Mona Meshram too played a positive innings of 59 runs in 71 balls. India A managed a score of 197runs in their allocated 50 overs. Australia A skipper again excelled picking up 3 wickets by conceding 23 runs in 9 overs. McGrath picked up 2 wickets.
The Australia A team dominated right from the start and Heather Graham anchored the innings with 68 not out from 87. She was well supported by Tahlia McGrath who made 47 in just 45 balls. The pair added 74 for the 3rd wicket to take the game away from the Indian A side. Shikha Pandey was the star bowler picking up 3 wickets and conceded only 38 runs in her allocated 10 overs. Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up 2 wickets, but the Aussie A team won by 4 wickets with nearly 10 overs remaining.
In the final and 3rd ODI, the India A scored a fighting 254 in their 50 overs. India A captain Punam Raut was the highest scorer with 98 in 123 deliveries. Mona Meshram continued her good form scoring another half century with 57 runs. Amanda Wellington picked up 3 for 59 and Piepa Cleary also had a good time with the ball picking up2 wickets.
However, the India A side could still not manage to get over the line with Georgia Redmayne helping the Australia A secure a win by scoring 98 runs. Tahlia McGrath continued her good form with the bat scoring yet another half century with 62 in 50 balls. Keeper batswoman Josephine Dooley scored run a ball 67 to take her side over the line and securing a whitewash in the series.
With the bat, Tahlia McGrath was the star of the series with 167 runs at a strike rate of 103.72. Punam Raut on the back of her 98 in the last ODI was the second highest scorer with 162 runs. Mona Meshram too got much needed time in the middle which will be useful in the upcoming T20 World Cup. She scored 144 runs at an average of 48. Heather Graham too had a good series with scores 68* and 48 in her 2 matches.
Australia A captain Molly Strano picked up most wickets in the series with 6 wickets to her name. She conceded runs at a miserly economy of only 3.13. Reemalaxmi Ekka, Preeti Bose and R Gayakwad were the most successful bowlers in the India A camp with 4 wickets each.
The series comes as a good practice for Indian players like Punam Raut, Mona Meshram who are also a part of the upcoming World T20 squad for India. The Australian A had sent a very strong squad to India and they haven’t disappointed a bit with many players staking their claim in the ODI team of Australia women.
The T20 series will begin from 22nd October and will be played at the same venue. Indians will look forward to a turn of fortunes in the shortest format of the game, while the Aussies will love to continue from where they have left in the ODI series.
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