Oz women thrash India to sweep ODIs
VADODARA: Indian women suffered their most embarrassing series defeat in recent times as Australia completed a 3-0 rout with a comprehensive 97-run drubbing of the hosts in the threematch ODI series.
Wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy smashed her way to a brilliant 133 off 115 balls with the Southern Stars piling up a massive 332 for 7.
In reply, India started off well riding on Jemimah Rodrigues (42 off 41 balls) and Smriti Mandhana (52 off 42 balls)’s 101-run opening stand but their fight fizzled out as they were all out for 235 in 44.4 overs.
Healy’s maiden ODI hundred ensured that Australia’s margin of victory only got bigger as India’s campaign turned from bad to worse.
The humiliating series defeat comes right after the BCCI announced hefty central contracts, making Mithali Raj and Co richest players in their sport.
The World Cup semi-final victory last year looked like distant memory and Australia exacted revenge, beating the ‘Women In Blue’ in their backyard.
With Punam Raut correctly dropped from the playing XI after her painful knock, Mandhana and Rodrigues did try their bit by hitting 17 boundaries in the first 13 overs but Gardner struck twice in as many balls to decisively turn the match in Australia’s favour.
Skipper Mithali Raj (21 off 38 balls) and her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur (25 off 26 balls) added 46 runs for the third wicket but the target was well beyond their reach.
Deepti Sharma (36) and Sushma Verma (30) started off steadily but failed to finish the match as they hosts were all out for 235 in 44.4 overs.
Spinner Gardner took three wickets while pacers Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt calimed two wickets each.
Brief scores: Australia 332/7 (Alyssa Healy 133 off 115 balls, Harmanpreet Kaur 2/51 in 5.3 overs) bt India 235 in 44.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 52, Jemimah Rodrigues 42, Ashleigh Gardner 3/39) by 97 runs.