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Australia women rode on sensational knocks from Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry to hammer Harmanpreet Kaur's India women by six wickets in their first ODI at the Wankhede stadium on December 28, Thursday.
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India posted a challenging total of 282/8, thanks to Jemimah Rodrigues' stunning 82 off 77. In reply, Indian women failed to tighten screw on Australian batters as Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry struck exceptional fifties to help Australia chase down the target with 21 balls and six wickets to spare. Besides Litchfield and Perry, Beth Mooney shone with an impressive 42 and Tahlia McGrath remained unbeaten on 68 off 55 to ensure Australia's facile victory.
Litchfield and Perry proved why they fetched jackpot deals in the WPL 2024 auction. While Litchfield was bought by Gujarat Giants for Rs 1 crore, Perry was acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 1.7 crore. Together the duo stitched a 148-run partnership for the second wicket which laid the foundation of Australia's win. For India Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma chipped in with a wicket apiece but their efforts went in vain.
With this, Australia achieved the second-largest run chase in the history of women's ODIs. This feat also set the record for the highest successful run chase against India, surpassing New Zealand's 280-run effort in 2022. The record for the highest run chase in women's ODIs is still held by Australia, who scored 289 runs against New Zealand in 2012.
Earlier, Jemimah Rodrigues' stellar 82 and Pooja Vastrakar's rapid, unbeaten 62 steered India Women to a record ODI total of 282/8 against Australia, surpassing their previous high of 281/4 set in Derby in 2017.
Despite early setbacks with top-order batters not capitalizing on starts, Jemimah overcame intense heat and humidity to maintain her excellent form. She scored her second fifty in four ODIs this year and her first against Australia, achieving her second-highest ODI score with seven boundaries from 77 balls. At Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, she was pivotal in building partnerships, including a significant 68-run stand with Pooja for the eighth wicket.
Pooja showcased her power-hitting skills, hammering seven fours and two sixes in her swift 62 off 46 balls, marking her fourth fifty in ODIs.
India's aggressive batting in the final overs, including 56 runs in the last six, was led by Pooja after Jemimah's dismissal by Ashleigh Gardner (2/63).
India had a shaky start, losing Shafali Verma early to Darcie Brown (1/33). Richa Ghosh, batting at No. 3, made a quick 21 off 20 balls but was dismissed by Annabel Sutherland (1/43). Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's dismissal, courtesy of a spectacular catch by Darcie off Ashleigh, was another setback.
Opener Yastika Bhatia held steady, nearing a half-century but fell for 49 off a delivery from Georgia Wareham (2/55), caught by Megan Schutt.
Deepti Sharma (21) and Amanjot Kaur (20) both got starts but failed to capitalize, each caught by Alana King off Georgia Wareham. Megan Schutt then removed Sneh Rana, leading to the crucial partnership between Jemimah and Pooja.
Meanwhile, India and Australia will lock horns with each other in the second ODI of the three-match series on December 30.
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