Australia emerged victorious by 43 runs in the third women’s ODI, securing an impressive 11th bilateral series win. While Smriti Mandhana delivered an outstanding performance for India, it was Beth Mooney’s exceptional batting that ultimately steered Australia to triumph.
Mooney’s explosive 138 runs off just 79 balls helped Australia post a formidable total of 412 runs all out, matching their joint-highest ODI score. This monumental effort surpassed their previous record of 371/8 against India in Brisbane last year.
Despite valiant resistance from the Indian team, Australia maintained their perfect series record, winning 2-1. India, chasing a colossal target, managed to reach 369 runs, falling short despite a powerful 121-run partnership between Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Had India successfully chased the target, it would have shattered the world record for the highest successful run chase in women’s ODIs, currently held by Sri Lanka’s 302 runs against South Africa in Potchefstroom in 2024.
The match was a boundary-fest, with India hitting 60 fours and five sixes, while Australia conceded fewer but still significant boundaries, with 39 fours and seven sixes. India’s fielding proved inconsistent, marked by dropped catches and misfields, though Deepti Sharma’s spectacular one-handed return catch to dismiss Grace Harris stood out.
Smriti Mandhana showcased her class with her second consecutive century, scoring 125 runs off a mere 63 balls. Her blistering 50-ball century set a new record for the fastest by an Indian woman in ODIs, surpassing her own previous best of 70 balls.
Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur maintained an aggressive run rate of ten runs per over during their century-plus partnership, with Kaur contributing a rapid 52 runs off 35 balls. Their partnership helped India recover from the early dismissals of Pratika Rawal (10) and Harleen Deol (11).
The momentum of India’s chase shifted dramatically after Harmanpreet was dismissed lbw following a medical break. Mandhana’s subsequent departure in the very next over dealt a severe blow to India’s hopes.
Deepti Sharma’s late surge, scoring 72 runs off 58 balls with five boundaries and two sixes, kept India’s faint hopes alive. However, continuous fall of wickets ultimately prevented India from reaching the daunting target.
Earlier in the day, Beth Mooney’s breathtaking innings laid the foundation for Australia’s massive total. She was ably supported by Georgia Voll (81 runs), Ellyse Perry (68), and captain Alyssa Healy, who made a quickfire 30.
India’s bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batters on the flat Kotla pitch. Healy set an aggressive tone with seven boundaries before Kranti Goud dismissed her for the third time in the series. Voll and Perry then built a solid 107-run partnership, exploiting India’s inconsistent bowling. Sneh Rana eventually broke their stand, dismissing Voll with a leg-side sweep.
Mooney’s dominant display included 23 fours and a six, as she fearlessly attacked both spin and pace bowlers throughout her innings. In the 45th over, Deepti Sharma managed to claim three wickets, including Mooney’s crucial run-out, triggering a late Australian collapse. However, by then, Australia had already established a commanding and match-winning position.