3rd ODI: Mithali Raj happy as India puts up an ‘A grade’ show vs Australia

Skipper Mithali Raj, after India ended Australia’s 26-match winning streak in ODIs, said that she told her side to give an A-grade performance and not think about the past. The Indian women’s team registered a two-wicket win over Meg Lanning and company in the third ODI. 

Youngsters Yastika Bhatia and Shafali Verma laid the foundation of a 265-run chase with half-centuries. However, it was Deepti Sharma (31) and Sneh Rana (30) who took the team close to the finish line before Jhulan Goswami (8) sealed the game with a boundary. 

Also read: Thrill Chillz of a win: Internet hails Indian women’s team ending Australia’s 26-match ODI win streak

“We are just happy that we have won the last game, just told the girls that we need to put up a A-grade performance, so happy with the victory. It’s good to have a little bit of depth in the batting order, we tried the combinations with all-rounders and it worked. Pooja got runs and crucial wickets, Shafali was good and Sneh Rana did really well,” Mithali said after the game.

India had come close to a win in the second match. Mithali Raj believes that the loss gave India confidence to go for a win in Sunday’s encounter. 

“It was important to bounce back from the second match, that loss hurt us, it was good to chase, we are good in that, but I think the last game gave us confidence going into today’s encounter,” she added.

Jhulan Goswami, who took three wickets and played a crucial eight-run knock, was adjudged as Player of the Match. 

“We were just trying to win the game, try to stay there and finish the game. We lost the last match by a narrow margin, but today was a new day, I wanted to keep the ball in the right area and if I did that, I knew I could get breakthroughs. That was what I did. It’s important to give your best in the field, take positives and that’s what I want to do as a senior. Lots of aches in my body, need time to recover, but we’re looking forward to be a part of the pink-ball Test,” the fast bowler said. 

Also read: IPL 2021: Curran replaces Bravo as KKR opt to bat vs CSK

Annabel Sutherland was the pick of the Aussie bowlers. The bowling all-rounder returned with three wickets. 

In the first innings, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney played knocks of 67 and 52 respectively as Australia posted a total of 264/9. Along with Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar (3) and Sneh Rana (1) were also amongst the wickets. 

India’s tour is a multi-format series, so the points at the end of this game is: Australia 4 and India 2. The Indian team is set to its first pink-ball Test starting between these two sides on Thursday.