Australia produced a commanding all-round display to defeat reigning world champions India by six wickets in the opening Women’s ODI on Tuesday.
India were bowled out for 214 after a largely underwhelming batting effort. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 58 off 68 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 53 from 84 deliveries, but the rest of the line-up failed to build meaningful partnerships.
Australia chased down the target comfortably, riding on half-centuries from skipper Alyssa Healy (50 off 70), who is currently playing her farewell series, and Beth Mooney, who anchored the innings with a fluent 76 off 79 balls.
Spinner Ashleigh Gardner starred with the ball for the hosts, claiming 3 for 33 in seven overs to derail India’s middle order.
With this result, the multi-format series is level at 2-2, after India had clinched the preceding T20I series 2-1. The three-match ODI series will be followed by a one-off Test in Perth, after which Healy will bring down the curtain on her international career.
Despite ending their ICC title drought in November, the Harmanpreet-led Indian side continues to be a work in progress and is yet to match the consistency and dominance of the Australian outfit.
There were a few positives for India with the ball, notably left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who struck twice in successive deliveries in the 11th over to remove Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll.
Earlier, India opted to bat after winning the toss at Allan Border Field. Australia were forced into late changes, with Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry ruled out of the series due to injuries. Pacers Megan Schutt and Lucy Hamilton were drafted in at short notice.
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Schutt made an immediate impact, trapping Pratika Rawal's leg before with a sharp inswinger in just the second ball of the match. Rawal was making her return to international cricket after recovering from the ankle injury she sustained during India’s triumphant ODI World Cup campaign at home last year.
Promoted to number three for the first time, Shafali Verma struggled to find her rhythm and eventually chipped a return catch to Darcie Brown.
Mandhana rode her luck early with a few streaky boundaries past the slip cordon before unfurling a series of elegant drives. However, Australia’s spinners tightened the screws in the middle overs. Gardner had Jemimah Rodrigues caught behind with a delivery that straightened slightly to find the outside edge.
Mandhana and Deepti Sharma both fell attempting the sweep, while Harmanpreet, after steadying the innings, also perished to a sweep shot off Gardner.
Kashvee Gautam provided late impetus with a brisk 43 off 44 balls, lifting India past the 200-run mark. She struck three sixes, including a clean hit straight over long-on off Schutt, in an otherwise disappointing batting display from the visitors.
