Australia beat India in second women’s T20I to level series

Navi Mumbai, Jan 7: Deepti Sharma’s all-round effort went in vain as Australia cantered to a six-wicket win against India in the second women’s T20 to level the three-match series here on Sunday.
After India’s frontline batters cut a sorry figure squandering starts, Deepti made a vital 31 to push the team’s total to 130/8.
She then produced a fine spell of 4-0-22-2 to delight a nearly-packed house here at the DY Patil Stadium, but India just did not have enough on the board to challenge Australia.
With 15 needed to win off 12 balls, Phoebe Litchfield (18 not out off 12 balls, 3x4s) struck two fours in first three balls of the penultimate over from Shreyanka Patil to dash India’s hopes.
Playing her 300th international game across formats, the legendary Ellyse Perry celebrated the feat with a fine knock of 34 not out (21 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) and took Australia over the line with a six to win the game.
Australia knocked off 47 runs from the target in the powerplay with both Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy (26) facing no difficulties against the Indian bowlers.
But Patil took a spectacular diving catch to help get rid of Healy in the eighth over for India’s first success off Deepti.
Patil, at long on, ran a few paces in front of her and put in a dive as she collected the ball.
It was Deepti again getting the second breakthrough with Mooney (20 off 29 balls, 2x4s) being stumped in the 10th over.
The series decider will now be played on Tuesday here at the same venue.
Earlier, with the batters failing to convert starts, India ended up with a below-par total.
Indian vice-captian Smriti Mandhana (23), Richa Ghosh (23) and even Jemimah Rodrigues (13) could not capitalise after making promising starts.
But Deepti fought till the end to push the team’s total as far as she could, with wickets falling steadily from the other end.
Kim Garth (2/27) dealt an early blow to India trapping Shafali Verma (1) leg-before wickets and had further success getting an on-song Rodrigues who got off the blocks quickly with three fours.
Having smashed almost 10 runs per over in the powerplay during the first game, India could only manage a mere 33/2 with Mandhana hitting a few attractive strokes as the team ended up posting 130/8. (PTI)