McKay (Australia): India and their lead bowler Jhulan Goswami failed to keep their nerves in a dramatic final over as Beth Mooney’s stunning unbeaten century ensured a five-wicket win for Australia – their 26th win – here In the second women’s ODI match. Friday. Australia thus took a 2-0 lead in the three-match women’s ODI series and India’s fragile bowling attack will now come under question.
It was a match that was in India’s pocket by the 25th over of the Australian innings, but Mooney stunned the visitors by chasing the third-highest target of all-time in women’s cricket by dropping the target to 275 with an unbeaten 125. In fact, the Indian team celebrated ahead of time when Goswami’s waist-high full-toss was hit straight over mid-wicket by Mooney, but, to their horror, it turned out to be a no-ball. It was minor as Goswami’s last ball was sent towards wide long-on for a couple to finish the match.
With 13 runs needed in the last over, old guard Goswami was handed the ball on Mooney (125 not out off 133 balls) and Nicola Carey (39 not out from 38 balls) on a dewy night. Keepers Richa Ghosh and Poonam Yadav were put under immense pressure as they scored five of the first two runs and Goswami accidentally bowled a beamer that hit Kerry Flush on the helmet and the umpire correctly signaled a no-ball.
Ghosh’s inexperience once came to the fore as she missed a run out when five runs were needed from the last two balls as the no-ball drama changed the course of the game. But it was more because of poor performances from Indian spinners Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav that saw Australia bounce back at 52 for 4.
This was the highest score against Australia since the start of Australia’s winning streak in 2018, but the Indian bowlers did a good job by the batsmen. Goswami bowled a full ripper that halved Alyssa Healy (0) while skipper Meg Lanning (6) was dismissed by Meghna Singh after Rajeshwari Gaekwad took a fine catch in the deep. Pooja Vastrakar hits a diving run out to Ellyse Perry while Gaikwad sees his name in the wicket-takers’ list patting Ashley Gardner on the back.
Mooney and Tahlia McGrath (74 off 77 balls) consolidated in style during their 126-run fifth-wicket stand. While Gaikwad was steady with his wicket-to-wicket lines, young Meghna and veteran Jhulan also tried to keep things tight. Yadav (6-0-38-0), who hasn’t been in the best of form throughout 2021, and Sharma (9-0-60-1) were not up to their lines in their first spell as the run-out started after they were finished. 25th over. Same for Pooja Vastrakar (8-0-43-1), who also missed the length, giving too many boundary deliveries.
India finally had some luck when Sharma bowled a crap half-tracker, which McGrath deposited in the hands of Yastika Bhatia at short fine leg. However, in the 42nd over bowled by Vastrakar, veteran Mooney hit two boundaries to put Mithali Raj’s brigade under real pressure.
Earlier, Mandhana scored a fluent 86 to propel India into a competitive position of 274 for 7 as India’s batsmen described themselves as better than in the first ODI. After the visitors were sent to bat, Mandhana hit 11 boundaries to register her 19th half-century. She shared two crucial partnerships – 76 with Richa Ghosh (44) and 74 with Shafali Verma (22) – to help India set up a decent total.
India started off with a run of 68/0 in the first 10 overs with Mandhana and Shafali (22) their best in 10 ODIs they have played this year. But spinner Sophie Molyneux broke the dangerous opening stand in the 12th over and was dismissed later. Captain Mithali Raj (8) was then run out and this was followed by the departure of Yastika Bhatia (3) as the hosts made a strong comeback.
Mandhana and Ghosh stabilized the ship keeping the scoreboard up, but the opener cut her straight to the point that ended her innings. Pooja Vastrakar (29) and Jhulan Goswami (28 not out) added 53 runs to help India cross the 250-run mark.
Tahlia McGrath (3/45) was one of the bowlers to take two wickets for Australia along with Molyneux (2/28).
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