Richa Ghosh's 96 goes in vain as Australia Women beat India Women; clinch series

India Women were beaten by Australia Women by three runs in a nail-biting second ODI played at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Deepti Sharma spun her web around the Australian batters as Indian Women restricted the Australian Women to a sub-par 258 for 8. However, India Women despite Richa Ghosh's valiant 96, could only manage 255 for 8 on the board.

Mumbai: Australia Women's bowlers led by pacer Annabel Sutherland held their nerves to defeat India Women by three runs in the second ODI at the iconic Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday. Australia Women first posted 258 for eight, but then restricted the hosts to 255 for 8 to eke out a win and clinch the series.

The third ODI, which will be played on January 2, 2024, now becomes a dead rubber. Chasing a modest 259, India lost opener Yastika Bhatia (14) early after she was trapped in front of the wickets by Kim Garth. One down Richa Ghosh was anchoring the Indian chase and hit a stroke-filed 96 with 13 boundaries. She added 34 runs with Smriti Mandhana (34 off 38 balls). But, when Smriti was sent back to the pavilion, the Bengal batter Richa found an able ally in local girl Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 55 plays). Jemimah, who hit three boundaries, played the perfect second fiddle as she and Richa took the game deep with their 88-run stand for the third wicket.

However, Jemimah walked back courtesy of a blinder by Phobe Litchfield, and Harmanpreet Kaur (5) also fell quickly. After Richa fell in the 44th over, the onus was on Deepti Sharma (24 not out) to take the side home. India lost three quick wickets and Deepti was devoid of partners. Australian pacer Annabel Sutherland (3 for 47), who was the pick of the bowlers, denied India a win. Debutant Shriyanka Patil hit a boundary on the last ball, but that was, too, little and, too, late.

Earlier, all-rounder Deepti Sharma clinched her second five-wicket haul in ODI cricket as India Women restricted Australia Women to a sub-par 258 for 8. Opting to bat, Australia Women had a steady start but skipper Alyssa Healy (13 off 24 balls) failed to go big after losing her wickets to pacer Pooja Vastrakar on a cross-seam delivery. However, Pheobe Litchfield (63 off 88 balls) and experienced all-rounder Ellyse Perry (50 off 47 balls) both scored individual half-centuries to rally the team out of the trouble.

Litchfield and Perry stitched a 77-run partnership for the second wicket. But, then seasoned off-spinner Deepti Sharma came into the action and got rid of Perry by forcing her to play a false shot, giving a simple catch to debutant Shreyanka Patil. She soon trapped Beth Mooney (10 off 17 balls) in front of the stumps. Australia was reeling at 133 for 3. The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals as none of the batters from the middle and lower middle order showed spine.

Tahila McGrath (24), Ashleigh Gardner (2), Annabel Sutherland (23), and Georgia Wareham (22) failed to convert their starts as Deepti Sharma spun a web around them. Thanks to Alana King's quick-fire 17-ball 28, Australia Women went past the 250-run mark. For the hosts, Deepti Sharma (5/38) was the pick of the bowlers. She was ably supported by Pooja Vastrakar (1/59), debutant spinner Shreyanka Patil (1/43), and Sneha Rana (1/59), who picked a wicket each.