Aus complete T20 domination
CHANDIGARH: Harmanpreet Kaur would like to erase the Australia tour from her memory. Having missed the three ODIs and the pink-ball Test due to a thumb injury, the 32-year-old batter had hoped to return to form and captain India to victory in the three-match T20 series.
It was not to be. Stamping their authority, the Meg Lanning-led Australia beat India women by 14 runs in the third T20I at the Carrara Oval on the Gold Coast on Sunday to win the T20s 2-0 (the first game was abandoned due to rain) and take the multi-format series 11-5 on points.
In the ODI series and the Test, India had produced a spirited showing, even dominated at times under Mithali Raj’s captaincy. In the T20s, skipper Kaur scored only 12, 28 and 13 on her comeback to add to the pressure on the visiting side.
Beth Mooney (61-43b, 10x4) and Tahlia McGrath (44*-31b, 6x4, 1x6) continued their domination of the Indian bowling, helping Australia score 149/5 after India had elected to bowl first. Chasing 150 for victory, Smriti Mandhana, India’s most consistent batter, continued with her fine form, hitting 52 (49 b, 8x4). But she did not get much support as India fumbled in the chase. Opener Shafali Verma got out to off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner for one run. Jemimah Rodrigues combined well with Mandhana to stitch together a 59-run second wicket partnership, raising hopes of a successful chase.
On 23, Rodrigues (26b, 1x4) was snapped up by leg-spinner Georgia Wareham holing out to long-off. With 58 needed off 32, Mandhana looked for a big hit over cover but was caught by Lanning off Nicola Carey. Skipper Kaur was playing cautiously at the other end, and once Mandhana was gone India lost the plot and collapsed.
Before Mandhana fell, India were 92/2, and though the required rate was steep, it looked like they could match up in the death overs. However, they ended up at 102/6 in the space of 15 balls. Kaur was dismissed by pacer Annabel Sutherland for a 16-ball 13. Pooja Vastrakar could not repeat her show in the last match, dismissed for five. Richa Ghosh took 21 runs in the last over bowled by Nicola Carey but India’s innings was restricted to 135/6. Pacer Ellyse Perry was not utilised by Lanning, who rotated just six bowlers.
Speaking after the match, Kaur said, “The result wasn’t in our favour, but we have good players like Pooja Vastrakar and Richa Ghosh. So, there are a lot of positives we can take and we are on the right track. I’m very excited for WBBL; it’s a great opportunity for us to grow as a team.” Eight Indians players will feature in the T20 Women’s Big Bash League, which starts on October 14.
Player-of-the-Match McGrath said, “It’s been unreal to be part of and love wearing the Aussie shirt again. I haven’t played T20 at this level before, but batting is batting. See ball, hit ball.” McGrath aggregated 235 runs in the multi-format series.
Mandhana for the future
Praising Mandhana for her good performances, India coach Ramesh Powar said: “She has been very consistent for India. The way she batted in the Test was commendable. We all take pride in the way she played and scored that hundred because she inspires the young generation. It makes a huge difference to the team.
“We are definitely looking at her as a future leader, I don’t know for which format but she is seen as someone who can lead India in the future. The BCCI, selectors and I will sit together and decide the further course of action.
Brief scores: Australia Women 149/5 in 20 overs (B Mooney 61, T McGrath 44; R Gaikwad 2/37). India women 135/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 52; Nicola Carey 2/42).