Visitors India conceded the three-match ODI series with a massive 122-run defeat in the 2nd ODI at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane. For the 3rd ODI, India made a couple of changes to their side, with Arundhati Reddy replacing injured Priya Punia, and Titas Sadhu replacing Priya Mishra in the side, while the hosts Australia retained the same XI that took the field in the 2nd ODI.
Annabel Sutherland’s 2nd ODI century led Australia’s fightback
Australian openers Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll, who have been impressive throughout the series, yet again got their side off to a solid start with a 58-run opening partnership, after the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to field first. Arundhati Reddy struck twice in the 11th over to remove both the openers in quick succession.
A fierce spell from Arundhati Reddy reduced Australia to 78/4 in the 17th over of the innings. Ashleigh Gardner joined Annabel Sutherland at the crease and the duo led a stubborn response for the home side with a much-needed 96-run partnership for the 5th wicket to take their side close to the 180-run mark. Deepti Sharma broke the partnership by removing Ashleigh Gardner in the 34th over of the innings. She rode her luck and scored a crucial half-century (50 off 64 balls) before making her way back to the pavilion.
Australia posted a massive total of 298/6 in their quota of 50 overs. The 122-run 6th wicket partnership between skipper Tahlia McGrath (56* off 50 balls) and Annabel Sutherland (110 off 95 balls) played a pivotal role in taking their side closer to the 300-run mark. The Australian middle order contributed 72% of the team’s total.
Arundhati Reddy (10-2-26-4), Renuka Singh (10-0-54-0), and Titas Sadhu (10-0-65-0) were the top performers with the ball for India.
India gift away the advantage after Smriti Mandhana’s 9th ODI ton
India continued with the opening pair of wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh and Smriti Mandhana in their attempt to chase down a massive total of 299. However, the visitors lost the half-centurion from the previous game, Richa Ghosh, in the 5th over of the run chase. Harleen Deol partnered with Smriti Mandhana at the crease and the duo laid the foundation with a massive 118-run 2nd wicket partnership to take their side closer to the 140-run mark, keeping India on track in the run chase.
Alana King’s introduction brought the wicket of Harleen Deol (39 off 64 balls) for the visitors to break the ominous 2nd wicket stand. Decent partnerships between Smriti Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (31-run partnership) for the 3rd wicket, followed by another crucial 24-run 4th wicket partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana kept the scoreboard ticking for India.
Smriti Mandhana completed her 9th ODI century (105 off 109 balls) and became the only woman player to score four ODI centuries in a calendar year (2024) before she was dismissed by Ashleigh Gardner in the 36th over of the innings. A horrible collapse saw the visitors get bundled out for 215, with 29 balls to spare. India lost their last 6 wickets for just 26 runs, as a result, falling 83 runs short of the target. Jemimah Rodrigues (16 off 11 balls) chipped in with a cameo but couldn’t continue to build on her innings to guide her side closer to the total.
Ashleigh Gardner (10-1-30-5), Megan Schutt (7-0-26-2), and Alana King (4.1-0-27-2) were the pick of the bowlers for Australia.
The 23-year-old all-rounder Annabel Sutherland was awarded the Player of the Match (110 of 95 balls) for scoring a match-defining knock, her 2nd century in the format. She was also awarded the Player of the Series with 122 runs with the bat and 6 wickets with the ball in the three-match ODI series, playing an instrumental role in helping her side complete a dominating whitewash in the ODI series.
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