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In the ODI series opener, the first since the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, hosts Australia beat India by six wickets. Bowlers’ clinical display followed by Beth Mooney’s 79-ball 76 led the hosts to a comfortable win with 70 balls to spare at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on February 24.
India lose early wickets
Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. Pratika Rawal, who was returning to action after a long injury layoff, got out for a two-ball duck to Megan Schutt. Australia were missing their key players Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth who got injured in the T20I series. Shafali Verma couldn't get going either and was caught and bowled by Darcie Brown. Smriti Mandhana continued to find boundaries from the other end. Ashleigh Gardner was introduced into the attack and she delivered with Jemimah Rodrigues' wicket in the 12th over.
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Mandhana, Harmanpreet depart after fifties
Harmanpreet walked in to bat and tried to stitch a partnership with Mandhana. In the 20th over, the opener got to her half-century from 57 balls. Boundaries dried up and Mandhana went for a big sweep shot against Tahlia McGrath. She ended up getting caught in the deep. The opener scored 58 runs from 68 balls. In the next over, Alana King dismissed Deepti Sharma. India lost half the side for 103 in 24.1 overs.
Richa Ghosh arrived at the crease and got off the mark with a boundary. The boundaries dried up again and Ghosh lost her wicket to Sophie Molineux for a 38-ball 23. Kashvee Gautam broke the shackles and launched a counter-attack. She hit the first six of the innings in the 36th over. In the 42nd over, Harmanpreet reached her fifty from 79 balls. The partnership was broken by Gardner in the 43rd over. The skipper went for a slog sweep but was caught in the deep. She scored 53 runs from 84 balls. Gautam ran out of partners in the slog overs and eventually got run out for a 44-ball 43, missing her maiden ODI fifty. India were bowled out for 214 in 48.3 overs.
Healy scores fifty in farewell series
Australia's run chase got off to an ideal start as Harmanpreet did not take the field due to a knee injury. India struggled to keep a lid on boundaries. The partnership was broken in the 11th over with Shree Charani's double strikes. Phoebe Litchfield got out stumped whereas Georgia Voll got caught at short extra cover. Mooney and skipper Healy soaked up the pressure in the middle overs as the required run rate wasn't threatening. In the 23rd over, Healy got to her fifty from 69 balls. In the next over, Kranti Gaud dismissed Healy who scored 50 runs from 70 balls, including four fours.
Mooney, Sutherland finish it off
From 119/3 in the 24th over, Mooney and Annabel Sutherland did not let Indian bowlers getting derailed. In the 30th over, Gautam dropped Sutherland's catch off Shafali's bowling. In the 31th over, Mooney hit Charani for a six to reach her fifty from 58 balls. In the 37th over, Deepti got the consolation wicket of Mooney. The wicketkeeper-batter's knock was studded with five fours and two sixes. On the second ball of the 39th over, Sutherland finished the run chase with a six off Deepti. She remained unbeaten for a 44-ball 48.
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