India Women were touring Australia for a 3-match ODI Series against the Australian Women’s team. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side has been clean-swept by the Aussies. The Women in Blue failed to win the last ODI on Wednesday despite being at the top of the game for the majority of the time. The collapse of the middle order has once again let down the side and it has yet again emerged as a loss.
India Women’s pacer Arundhati Reddy bowled a stunning period of swing bowling in scorching heat at the WACA. Before Annabel Sutherland struck a blistering century to lead Australia to a solid 298 for 6 in the ODI series decider. After being called in to bat, openers Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield combined for 58 runs in the powerplay. Before Reddy turned the game on its head with extraordinary sideways movement that shredded Australia’s vaunted top order.
She made the most of her opportunity, finishing with 4 for 26 in 10 overs. Her first eight-over stint was highlighted by the wickets of Voll, Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, and Beth Mooney. Resulting in a 4 for-20 collapse. However, her courageous efforts were undone by erratic bowling from India’s other quicks and careless fielding. After being dropped on 12. Sutherland cashed in to score her second ODI century.
Harmanpreet Kaur should retire as captain
She finished with 110 from 95 balls, before being run out on the second-last ball of the innings. Ashleigh Gardner, who was dropped twice, and skipper Tahlia McGrath both scored half-centuries to help Australia complete a clean sweep of the series. Kaur’s side has been outplayed in the previous two ODIs. But in the third chasing a mammoth target of 299 they had a decent start after losing Richa Ghosh early.
Smriti Mandhana scored a brilliant century and stitched a partnership of 118 runs partnership with Harleen Deol who also scored a fifty. But as the partnership was broken the wickets kept on coming from 134/2 they were down to 189/6. This has been a problem for India and Kaur’s captaincy will be in question after this series.
