In what you can call it as one of the greatest ODI match ever played, Australia extended their lead to 26 wins in a row, thanks to Beth Mooney.
Right after the first ODI, Mithali asked for the openers to put up a good stand at the top and they did exactly the same as India made 74 for the first wicket before Shafali Verma got out for 22.
A misunderstanding between Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj led to the latter’s wicket. Pressure killed Yastika Bhatia as well. India found themselves 95 for 3 at one point.
Richa Ghosh, who was promoted up the order, joined hands with Smriti Mandhana to add an important partnership. Mandhana got out for 86 from 94 deliveries, her third fifty-plus score in the last four ODIs against Australia.
Ghosh made 44 from 50. The lower order then chipped in to take the total to 274.
Australia was chasing a total they hadn’t chased in the last 25 matches they had won. They knew it was going to be difficult, especially, in the absence of Rachael Haynes.
As expected, India bowlers were on top right from the first over. Jhulan Goswami removed Alyssa Healy for a duck. Meghna Singh got rid of Meg Lanning and the Pooja Vastrakar ran Ellyse Perry out.
Australia was 34 for 3 and 52 for 4. This was a situation they had never been in for a very long time. However, their batting order is just too deep and as expected, the team bounced back.
Tahlia McGrath made 74 and then Nicola Carey had 39*. The guiding force for both the players was Beth Mooney who opened the innings today.
Mooney batted well right from ball one and she slowly began to build the partnership with McGrath and Carey.
She took 133 deliveries to make an unbeaten 125.
In the final over, Australia needed 13 runs to win and a couple of misfields from India, a no-ball from Jhulan Goswami narrowed it down to 3 runs from the final delivery.
Jhulan Goswami bowled a waist height delivery which went straight to the fielder. However, after much discussion, it was called a no-ball. With two runs needing from the final delivery, Australia got there with ease. Either way, it was one of the best ODIs ever played in recent times.
