Australia's star opener Phoebe Litchfield starred with a stunning century to lead her team to a commanding 190-run victory over India's women in the third and final ODI, completing a 3-0 series clean sweep in Mumbai on January 2, 2024, thanks to Litchfield's explosive 125-ball 119, coupled with a record-breaking 189-run partnership with captain Alyssa Healy.
After allowing Australia to set a record total of 338/7 – the highest ever scored against them – India's vulnerabilities with the bat were starkly exposed as they were bundled out for just 148 in 32.4 overs. The Indian batters, who had shown resilience in the second ODI at the Wankhede Stadium, failed to impact Australia's streak of 10 straight victories in away bilateral games.
This series marked Australia's ninth win over India and their fifth on Indian soil. Australia's previous triumphs include 3-0 victories in India in 2018 and 2012, and a 4-0 win in 1984. India also faced 0-3 and 0-5 series defeats in Australia in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
India's troubles were compounded in the powerplay, with Megan Schutt (2/23) dismissing Yastika Bhatia (6) and Smriti Mandhana (29) being caught by Kim Garth at deep extra cover.
The situation worsened for India when captain Harmanpreet Kaur (3) was out for a third consecutive low score. Attempting to sweep Georgia Wareham (3/21), Harmanpreet was outsmarted by Beth Mooney's quick movement from first slip to complete the catch.
Richa Ghosh (19), following her impressive 96 in the second ODI, was bowled by Wareham, with the Australian leg-spinner once again capturing key wickets.
India's chances of extending the match took a severe hit in the 20th over when their most consistent performer in the series, Jemimah Rodrigues (25), hit a shot straight to Alana King at short midwicket off Ashleigh Gardner's bowling.
However, a standout moment for Australia in their fielding innings was Phoebe Litchfield's remarkable one-handed catch. She made a diving effort to her right at cover to dismiss Amanjot Kaur (3) off King's bowling.
King (2/21) then delivered a pivotal moment in the series, deceiving Pooja Vastrakar (14) with a ball that spun from leg stump to hit the top of off stump.
Annabel Sutherland also contributed effectively, finishing with figures of 3-0-9-2.
Earlier in the game, Litchfield continued her excellent form, scoring a splendid century to lead Australia's batting assault. She hit 16 fours and a six in her 119 off 125 balls, forming a record-breaking 189-run opening partnership with Alyssa Healy, who scored a rapid 82 off 85 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes).
Australia started aggressively with the bat and, despite Shreyanka Patil’s 3/57, capitalized on a batsman-friendly wicket.
The partnership between Litchfield and Healy is now the highest for any wicket by a visiting team in India in the 50-over format, surpassing the 169-run stand by South Africans Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt in 2021.
Litchfield, having narrowly missed centuries in the first two ODIs with scores of 78 and 63, displayed a wide array of strokes to dominate the Indian bowling. She had a stroke of luck when Deepti Sharma couldn't grasp a difficult diving catch to her left, off Amanjot Kaur's bowling (10-0-70-2), when Litchfield was on 62.
While it was a small consolation, Deepti Sharma's catch of Litchfield off Harmanpreet Kaur's bowling meant that the right-arm spinner joined the ranks of only four Indians who have taken 100 wickets in one-day cricket.
Shreyanka Patil emerged as the most effective Indian bowler, taking 3 wickets for 57 runs in her 10 overs. Her dual strikes in the 36th over provided some relief during a challenging day for India.
Patil successfully trapped Mooney (3) and Tahlia McGrath (0) lbw on successive balls, briefly slowing Australia's momentum, though the visitors quickly regained their upper hand with their assertive batting.
Ashleigh Gardner's quickfire 30 off 27 balls, including four fours, Annabel Sutherland's brisk 23 off 21 balls (2 fours, 1 six), and Alana King's late onslaught of 26 not out from 14 balls, featuring three sixes and a four, enabled Australia to surpass their previous record.
King's 19 runs in Vastrakar’s final over led Australia to set a new highest total against India in ODIs, surpassing their 332/7 scored in Vadodara in March 2018.
India's performance was also marred by fielding errors, including misfields and dropped catches, and they conceded 28 extras, further boosting Australia's formidable total.
Following seven dropped catches in the previous match, India's fielding woes continued, notably when Smriti Mandhana missed an easy catch at deep midwicket, giving Ellyse Perry a chance to continue her innings.
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