A victory against the formidable Australian women’s cricket team is always a monumental achievement, but India’s recent 102-run triumph in the second One Day International was truly historic. This wasn’t just any win; it marked India’s first ODI victory on home soil against the reigning queens of international cricket in a remarkable 18 years, following their last ODI success against Australia four years prior in Mackay.
With the World Cup looming in less than two weeks, this emphatic win holds immense significance. After suffering a crushing eight-wicket defeat in the series opener, the Women in Blue responded with exceptional resilience and flair. Playing before a vibrant, albeit intimate, crowd at the PCA Stadium on Wednesday night, they not only secured Australia’s largest-ever defeat by runs but also snapped an eight-game losing streak against them in ODIs.
The foundation of this memorable victory was laid by another masterclass from Smriti Mandhana. Her exquisite 117 runs off just 91 balls, adorned with 14 fours and 4 sixes, marked her 12th ODI century and propelled Harmanpreet Kaur’s side to a formidable total of 292 – India’s highest-ever score against Australia, surpassing their previous best by 11 runs from the first ODI.
While no target is ever truly safe against Australia’s powerful batting lineup, a collective and disciplined bowling effort from a re-energized Indian attack made the chase exceedingly difficult. Bolstered by the return of Renuka Singh, the team showcased a significantly improved fielding performance, a stark contrast to their disappointing display just two days prior.
The early breakthrough came from Radha Yadav, whose impressive caught-and-bowled dismissal of Ellyse Perry encapsulated India’s revitalized spirit on the field. Such moments of brilliance are, of course, expected from a player of Yadav’s talent.
Perry’s wicket was particularly pivotal. After Australia lost their openers, Alyssa Healy and Georgia Voll, within the first five overs, it was Perry (44 runs off 61 balls, 5 fours) who had been leading the visitors’ fightback. Renuka Singh, playing her first international match since last December, provided the initial breakthrough by forcing Voll into an inside edge onto her stumps. Later, the dismissal of Annabel Sutherland (45 runs off 42 balls, 4 fours), caught brilliantly at extra cover by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur off Arundhati Reddy’s bowling, effectively extinguished Australia’s dwindling hopes.
Ultimately, it was Smriti Mandhana’s solo brilliance with the bat that set the tone. Known as the ‘goddess on the off-side,’ she proved equally devastating on the leg-side. Besides her monumental effort, Deepti Sharma was the only other Indian batter to cross the 30-run mark, contributing a steady 40 runs from 53 balls (2 fours). Smriti and Pratika had earlier provided India with an excellent start, forging a 70-run opening partnership in just 11 overs.