Australia’s Annabel Sutherland bowls a supply in the course of the first ODI cricket match between India Women and Australia Women, in New Chandigarh, on September 14, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Half-centuries by Pratika Rawal (64), Smriti Mandhana (58) and Harleen Deol (54) powered India Women’s to a aggressive 281 for seven within the first One-Day International of the three-match sequence against Australia on Sunday (September 14, 2025).
India had been served effectively by their prime order batters with every of them hitting their stride to make vital contributions, whilst the center order gamers didn’t get going.
Rawal and Mandhana placed on 114 for the first wicket — now the third highest for India against Australia — displaying why they’ve been a drive to reckon with as a pair.
Australia, on their half, used as many as eight bowling choices to get their gamers up and working in Indian circumstances, with the ODI World Cup now a fortnight away.
On a conducive wicket, each India and Australia fought onerous for management of the proceedings as after the autumn of Mandhana within the twenty second over, the guests tightened the screws.
Mandhana’s cost ended with an embarrassing mix-up along with her opening associate. The India vice-captain set off for a pointy single after hitting it in the direction of Phoebe Litchfield at additional cowl however Rawal denied the only, leaving Mandhana in no state to flip and make it again in time.
If not for that run-out, Mandhana was set for a giant rating having batted fluently for her half-century, which included six fours and two sixes.
This was shortly after Rawal introduced up her fifty two balls earlier — her sixth within the format — however she too couldn’t push on for an even bigger rating.
Rawal perished within the thirty first over when she went for a slog against Alana King however discovered Ellyse Perry at midwicket, who didn’t fumble in taking a regulation seize.
India, who had crossed the 100-run mark by the 18th over following a optimistic begin, had crawled to 168 for 3 after the thirty fifth with solely 4 boundaries — one 4 and three sixes — being hit throughout this passage of play.
Like the openers, Harleen too batted with a whole lot of intent hitting 4 fours and two sixes throughout her knock, which got here off 57 balls.
Even although India did wrestle within the center overs to speed up and discover common boundaries, they managed to forge important partnerships all over the top to put up a formidable complete on board.
Brief scores:
India Women: 281/7 in 50 overs (Pratika Rawal 64, Smriti Mandhana 58, Harleen Deol 54; Megan Schutt 2/45).
Published – September 14, 2025 05:19 pm IST