Australia 252 for 5 (Voll 101, Litchfield 80) beat India 251 for 9 (Harmanpreet 54, Rawal 52) by five wickets
Georgia Voll struck a commanding century and Phoebe Litchfield contributed a fluent 80 as Australia defeated India at Bellerive Oval to secure the ODI series 2-0, underlining their dominance in the 50-over format.
Set 252 for victory after India posted 251 for 9 on an excellent batting surface, Australia made light work of the chase. Litchfield and Voll put together a brisk 119-run stand for the second wicket, steering the hosts towards the target, which they reached in the 37th over. The result gives Australia a 6-4 lead in the multi-format series, with one more ODI and a one-off Test in Perth still to come.
Australia responded strongly despite an untidy display in the field and pre-match confirmation that Sophie Molineux would miss the remainder of the multi-format series due to a back injury.
Australia’s Bowlers Lay the Platform
In favourable batting conditions, Australia’s attack operated with greater control than India’s. Annabel Sutherland returned figures of 2 for 37 from seven overs, while spinners Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner claimed two wickets each. Nicola Carey, drafted in for Molineux and playing her first ODI since the 2022 World Cup, finished with 1 for 55 from eight overs.
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The ODI series concludes at the same venue on Sunday. A win in that fixture would ensure Australia cannot lose the multi-format series outright.
India’s return to ODI cricket has been underwhelming following their 2-1 T20I success and last year’s home World Cup triumph, which featured a semi-final victory over Australia.
India’s Missed Opportunity with the Bat
After winning the toss for the fifth consecutive time, India were left to reflect on missed chances, unable to fully capitalise on Australia’s dropped catches. Impulsive dismissals halted their momentum.
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Pratika Rawal and captain Harmanpreet Kaur registered half-centuries at either end of the innings. Rawal and Smriti Mandhana had earlier provided a solid start with a 78-run opening partnership, with Mandhana benefiting from a couple of reprieves. However, India’s innings faltered dramatically as they slumped by losing 5 for 52 between the 17th and 31st overs.
Mandhana was bowled by Gardner after moving across her stumps, while Rawal’s composed 81-ball 52 ended in a run-out following a mix-up with Harmanpreet. Jemimah Rodrigues, promoted back to No.3 with Shafali Verma rested, managed 11 before falling to Sutherland.
Harmanpreet, having overcome a knee injury sustained in the first ODI, scored 54 from 70 balls to steady the innings at 130 for 5. Contributions from the lower order helped India to what appeared a competitive total, though it ultimately proved insufficient.
Voll and Litchfield Take Control
Australia’s chase began with an early breakthrough as Alyssa Healy, playing the penultimate ODI of her career, was bowled for 6 by a yorker from Kashvee Gautam, who claimed her maiden international wicket.
Voll, stepping in for the injured Ellyse Perry and eager to respond after a golden duck in the first ODI, played with authority. A well-executed lap scoop for four appeared to boost her confidence. Litchfield adopted an aggressive approach from the outset, dominating the powerplay and scoring 41 of Australia’s first 60 runs. She struck Kranti Gaud for three consecutive boundaries and used a combination of reverse sweeps and footwork to unsettle left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, who was introduced in the eighth over on debut.
India hoped Shree Charani could slow the scoring, but Litchfield continued to attack, bringing up her half-century from 42 balls with a boundary through cover-point.
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India’s fielding lapses proved costly. Voll was dropped on 19 by Gaud at long-on and again on 53 by Mandhana at deep midwicket. Litchfield fell short of a hundred when she was bowled by Gaud attempting a scoop.
Attention then turned to whether Voll would reach three figures. She survived a chance on 99 when Richa Ghosh missed a take down the leg side. Voll soon completed her century from 80 balls before being dismissed shortly afterwards, with the outcome already beyond doubt.
