In one of the most anticipated contests of the ongoing 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, the home side, India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, were up against the defending champions, Australia, led by skipper Alyssa Healy, at Vizag, in the 13th match of the tournament.
Smriti Mandhana – Pratika Rawal deliver a record opening stand against Australia
The Indian openers, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana, buckled up after a couple of missed opportunities in the earlier games in the tournament. A slightly measured approach in the powerplay saw the Women in Blue score at a tick under 6 runs an over (58). The duo grew in confidence as the innings progressed. The introduction of the spinners, Ashleigh Gardner and Sophie Molineux, inside the powerplay, unlocked the attacking mode for the opening pair.
The partnership soared and so did the records tumble, en route to their mammoth 155-run opening stand. It is the highest-ever opening stand against Australia in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. Sophie Molineux broke the partnership by sending Smriti Mandhana (80 off 66 balls) back to the pavilion, providing the much-needed first breakthrough for Australia, around the halfway mark in the innings. Smriti Mandhana registered her first half-century in the ongoing edition of the tournament. She also became the fastest and the youngest, alongside being only the 2nd Indian to the 5,000 runs club in the ODI format.
Harleen Deol joined Pratika Rawal at the crease and displayed a proactive approach to ensure the momentum remains intact. The pair took India closer to the 200-run mark, with a 37-run 2nd wicket stand. Pratika Rawal (75 off 96 balls) perished in her attempt to take the attack to Annabel Sutherland in the 31st over of the innings, providing the 2nd breakthrough for Australia.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined Harleen Deol at the crease. Another promising start from the skipper (22 off 17 balls) was curtailed by Megan Schutt in the 37th over of the innings to provide a crucial 3rd breakthrough for her side. India, at 261/4 in 40 overs, looked set to unleash a counter-attacking onslaught and push the total past the 350-run mark with Jemimah Rodrigues quickly out of the blocks and the promotion of the wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh.
However, despite the brief fireworks en route to the 54-run 5th wicket stand between Richa (32 off 22 balls) and Jemimah (33 off 21 balls), the departure of Richa Ghosh (32 off 22 balls) eventually proved to be the tipping point of a collapse. Each batter that followed were trying to smash the bowlers right from the word go. As a result, an innings that looked poised to surpass the 370-run mark at one stage was restricted to 331, getting bundled out with 7 balls to spare. Harleen Deol (38 off 42 balls) and Amanjot Kaur (16 off 12 balls) played their part with the bat for India.
Australia significantly pulled things back, significantly, wrestling the momentum back in their favour, heading into the innings break. Annabel Sutherland (9.5-0-40-5) found herself at the forefront of Australia’s fightback. Sophie Molineux (10-1-75-3) and Ashleigh Gardner (7-0-40-1) were impressive with the ball for Australia.
Alyssa Healy leads from the front with her maiden century captain
Chasing a record total, the Australian openers Phoebe Litchfield and skipper Alyssa Healy got their side off to a flying start with an 85-run opening stand. The pair scored at a rate of over 8 runs an over in the powerplay, realising the importance of taking advantage of the field restrictions, in a massive chase.
An outstanding catch at the backward point from Sneh Rana ended Phoebe Litchfield’s (40 off 39 balls) stay at the crease in the 12th over of the run chase. Shree Charani provided the first breakthrough for India. Ellyse Perry joined skipper Alyssa Healy at the crease, and the duo were going along nicely when Ellyse Perry pulled off her hamstring and eventually had to walk off for some treatment after the 24th over of the run chase.
India capitalised on the opportunity and grabbed a couple of quick wickets, reducing Australia to 170/3 in the 28th over, bringing the home side firmly back into the contest. After a few quiet overs, Alyssa Healy continued to take the attack to the Indian bowlers. The duo were threatening to run away with the game courtesy of a counterattacking 95-run partnership for the 5th wicket, alongside Ashleigh Gardner. Charani returned and got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Alyssa Healy (142 off 107 balls), in her final over of her remarkable spell (10-1-41-3). Alyssa Healy registered her maiden century as a skipper in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. She also registered the highest score in a run chase against India in the tournament.
Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath (12 off 8 balls) took Australia to a comfortable position in the run chase. The Indian bowlers continued to fight back with regular wickets. The reintroduction of Ellyse Perry at the crease landed a hammer blow, as she sealed the run chase with a maximum, taking Australia over the line with 3 wickets and an over to spare.
Ashleigh Gardner (45 off 46 balls), Ellyse Perry (47* off 52 balls), Kim Garth (14* off 13 balls), and Sophie Molineux (18 off 19 balls) chipped in with crucial contributions with the bat for Australia. Deepti Sharma (10-0-52-2) and Amanjot Kaur (9-0-68-2) played a vital role with the ball for India.
Skipper Alyssa Healy was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-defining innings (142 off 107 balls). Her knock included 21 boundaries and 3 maximums. Australia rose to the top of the table with 7 points from 4 games in their campaign so far.
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