Mackay (Australia), Sep 24: India and their premier bowler Jhulan Goswami failed to keep their nerves in a dramatic final over as Beth Mooney’s brilliant unbeaten hundred ensured a five-wicket win for Australia – their 26th on the trot – in the second women’s ODI here on Friday.
Australia thus took a 2-0 lead in the three-match WODI series and India’s fragile bowling attack will now come under the scanner. It was a match that was in India’s pocket till the 25th over of the Australian innings but Mooney, with an unbeaten 125, stunned the visitors in the third highest chase of all-time in women’s cricket by knocking off a target of 275.
In fact, the Indian team prematurely celebrated when Goswami’s waist high full-toss was hit straight to mid-wicket by Mooney but, to their horror, it turned out to be a no-ball. It was marginal as Goswami’s last ball was sent towards wide long-on for a couple to finish the match.
With 13 needed off the last over, old guard Goswami was handed the ball with Mooney (125 off 133 balls) and Nicola Carey (39 not out off 38 balls) on the rampage on a dew-laden night.
Keeper Richa Ghosh and Poonam Yadav were put under extreme pressure as they got five off first two and Goswami accidentally bowled a beamer that hit Carey flush on the helmet with the umpire rightly signalling a no-ball.
Ghosh’s inexperience was once came through as she missed a run-out when five were required off last two balls as the no-ball drama changed the course of the game.
But it was more about poor show from Indian spinners Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav that led to Australia making a comeback after being 52 for 4. It was the highest total scored against Australia since their winning streak started in 2018 but Indian bowlers undid all the good job by the batters.
Goswami bowled an absolute ripper that cut Alyssa Healy (0) into half while skipper Meg Lanning (6) was dismissed by Meghna Singh when Rajeshwari Gayakwad took a catch in the deep.
Puja Vastrakar then effected a diving run out of Elyse Perry while Gayakwad got her name on wicket-taker’s list to see the back of Ashleigh Gardner with the Southern Stars reeling.
Mooney and Tahlia McGrath (74 off 77 balls) consolidated in style during their 126-run fifth-wicket stand.
Earlier, Mandhana hit a fluent 86 to guide India to a competitive 274 for 7 as India batters gave a far better account of themselves compared to the first WODI. Mandhana hit 11 boundaries to register her 19th half-century after the visitors were sent in to bat.
She shared two crucial partnerships – 76 runs with Richa Ghosh (44) and 74 runs with Shafali Verma (22) – to help India set up a good total. India were off to a flying start with Mandhana and Shafali (22) racing to 68/0 in the first 10 overs. (PTI)
