3rd ODI: India women win by 2 wickets to snap Australia’s 26-match win streak

The Australian women’s cricket team’s 26-match win streak came to an end on Sunday, as fifties from Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia along with cameos from Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana guided India to a two-wicket win at the Harrup Park in Queensland’s Mackay. 

This was the highest run chase that the Indian women’s team have successfully completed. The win brought India its first win of the three-match series, which Australia sealed with a thrilling five-wicket win in the last ball of the second game.  

Australia had last lost an ODI in October 2017, against England at home, with their incredible win streak starting in March 2018 with a 3-0 series win in India. 

Australia’s fighting spirit came to the fore in their innings as they recovered from being 87 for the loss of four in the 25th over to post a competitive total. 

Veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami was the pick of the Indian bowlers and adjudged player of the match for her figures of 3/37 from 10 overs. She also struck the boundary that got India over the line. 

Also Read | India vs Australia: Mithali Raj did not expect no ball on final delivery

The 28-year-old got India’s first and second breakthroughs with the dismissal of Rachael Haynes (13) and skipper Meg Lanning. Pooja Vastrakar, who also took three wickets, removed Ellyse Perry after Allysa Healy was run out by Rajeshwari Gayakwad as the hosts were struggling  in the middle overs. 

But Beth Mooney (52), who scored 125 in the second ODI, forged a 98-run partnership with Asheligh Gardner (67) as their fifties helped pulled Australia out of the rut.

Tahlia McGrath also scored 47 to help guide the hosts to 264. 

In response, India got the start they needed, thanks to a 59-run stand for the opening wicket between Verma (56) and Smriti Mandhana (22) in just under 11 overs.

Also Read | Do we need a women’s IPL? Here is what players have to say

After Mandhana’s dismissal, Bhatia (64) joined Verma in the middle and the two forged a fine partnership and carried on the good work without any difficulty.

After 25 overs, India were comfortably placed at 131 for one with the visiting batters hitting a boundary every over.

However, after a slew of dismissals, Sneh Rana (30) and Deepti Sharma (31) quickly added crucial runs down the order, enough for the ones who followed them to see the team through.

Goswami struck the winning runs with a boundary down the ground off Sophie Molineux to seal the win. 

The ODI series will be followed by a one-off day-night Test at the Carrara Oval, Queensland startng September 30, before a three-match T20I series begins on October 7.