Margin of Loss against Australia Women a big sign of concern for India Women

India Women were completely outplayed by dominant Australia Women in the three-match ODI series that was played in the latter’s backyard from December 5 to 11. India lost the first ODI by five wickets, second ODI by 122 runs, and third ODI by 83 runs. These are not just victory margins for Australia but concerning signs for India with ICC Women’s World Cup just less than a year away.

While India were totally outdone in the first two ODIs, there was a glimmer of hope in the third ODI that a whitewash could be averted. However, Australia, as usual were ruthless on field and albeit offering five lives to India, managed to win the match by a significant difference.

Chasing an improbable 299 to earn pride, India did not get off to the best of starts as they lost their opening Richa Ghosh (2) cheaply due to lack of footwork. The inswinger delivery from Megan Schutt in the fifth over crashed onto the stumps and Ghosh, having scored a half-century in her previous match, had to make the long walk back to the pavilion.

Later, Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol combined forces to stitch a gritty 118 run partnership for the second wicket. Both the batters rode on luck as they were dropped thrice. But after Deol (39) finally departed, courtesy of an unbelievable caught and bowled by Alana King, the floodgates were opened. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (12), Jemimah Rodrigues (16), and Deepti Sharma (0) failed to put their hands up. Mandhana (105) meanwhile registered her ninth ODI century but in the end proved to be the lone warrior in the fight.

Ashleigh Gardner, who early in the day, scoring a patient 50, broke the back of India’s batting. The off spinner snapped her maiden ODI five-wicket haul to send the likes of Mandhana, Sharma, Minnu Mani (8), Arundhati Reddy (5), and Saima Thakor (0) packing.

Apart from the five dropped catches, Australia had a fantastic day at office. They outperformed India in batting and bowling departments. Despite stuttering at 78/4, the hosts piled up 298 runs. The Gardner-Sutherland partnership of 96 runs pushed the tourists on the backfoot. Both these batters were dropped twice each, which did not help India’s cause. They made India pay a heavy price for those missed chances. While Gardner scored a half century after almost 18 months, Sutherland (110) brought up her second ODI century.

Of the six bowlers used by India, Arundhati Reddy was the pick of the bowlers as she got rid of Australia’s top four, who scored 50+ runs each in the second ODI. Despite not playing the first two ODIs, Reddy got the measure of the pitch and conditions quite early in her spell.

After a horrid Australia tour, it is time for India to go back to the drawing board and sort things out as quickly as possible. Right from the opening combination to finding that sixth bowler to ofcourse improving fielding standards, everything needs work. They don’t have much time as West Indies and Ireland will be eager to face the Women in Blue over the next few days.

Brief Scores: Australia 298/6 in 50 overs (A Sutherland 110; A Reddy 4/26) beat India 215 all out in 45.1 overs (S Mandhana 105; A Gardner 5/30) by 83 runs