A dominant display by pace duo Tess Flintoff and Milly Illingworth paved the way for Australia A’s comfortable win in the opening unofficial women’s T20I at New Chandigarh, routing India A for 117 before racing through a straightforward run chase.
India A women suffer 6-wicket against Australia A
Deciding to bat first, the hosts were immediately put on the back foot as Flintoff struck in the second over to dismiss Dinesh Vrinda, followed closely by Sianna Ginger taking out skipper Anushka Sharma. When Flintoff removed the other opener, Shipra Giri, in the fifth over, India A found themselves in early trouble. Illingworth—fresh off her WPL 2026 stint with Mumbai Indians Women—then blew the middle order open upon her eighth-over entry. She knocked over both Niki Prasad and Shweta Sehrawat in a devastating double-wicket first over, before holding a catch off Charli Knott’s offspin on the next ball to end a brief 15-ball 22 counterattack from Tejal Hasabnis, leaving the home side reeling at 50 for 6.
Tess Flintoff wreaks havoc with fiery four-fer
A late spark from Minnu Mani (23 off 14 balls) provided India A’s brief highlight, though the lower order ultimately couldn't halt Australia's charge. Flintoff secured her third victim by removing Tanuja Kanwar, and Darcie Brown claimed Mani in the following over to snuff out the resistance. Sayali Satghare helped stretch the innings into the 19th over, but Flintoff capped her four-wicket haul with the dismissal of Jintimani Kalita before Ginger wrapped up the innings on the final ball of the 19th, capping off a commanding performance from the Australian bowling attack.
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Though the visitors lost two early wickets during the powerplay, their aggressive scoring rate ensured they stayed firmly in control of the chase. Any lingering hopes of an Indian fightback were effectively erased by a 43-run partnership between Charli Knott and Katie Mack. Anushka Sharma eventually broke the stand by removing Mack and later added Knott (35) to her tally, but the breakthroughs came too late to shift the momentum. Anika Learoyd provided the final flourish, blasting an unbeaten 33 off just 19 balls to wrap up a decisive six-wicket victory for Australia A with six full overs remaining.