Mullanpur: Smriti Mandhana produced a scintillating knock of 117 runs from 91 balls to guide India to a commanding 102-run win over Australia in the second ODI of the ongoing three-match series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.
India, batting first, were bowled out for 292 in 49.5 overs, with Mandhana’s century forming the backbone of the innings. Deepti Sharma chipped in with a useful 40, ensuring India reached a competitive total. In reply, Australia faltered and were dismissed for 190 in 40.5 overs, as India’s bowlers executed their plans with precision.
Kranti Gaud spearheaded the attack, claiming three wickets for just 28 runs in 9.5 overs. Deepti Sharma, complementing her batting effort, also took two crucial wickets to dismantle the Australian middle order.
Reflecting on her match-winning knock, Mandhana, who was adjudged Player of the Match, said:
“The last two hundreds I got against Australia were in a losing cause, so I am happy we won today. The game plan was simple – use the powerplay and build an innings. Against Australia, you need 280-290 to give the bowlers that extra cushion. The wicket was flat, so I had to be aggressive.”
India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur praised her side’s discipline and clarity of thought:
“We are happy that we played good cricket. The message was to stick to our plans and keep things simple. Smriti gave us runs, and even though no one else went big, we managed close to 300. We now have depth in batting, and the bowlers created enough chances for us to capitalise.”
Meanwhile, Australian captain Alyssa Healy admitted her team were outplayed but chose to focus on the positives:
“Good preparation for the World Cup. They were very good in all facets of the game and probably outplayed us. We thought they were on track for over 300 but pulled them back. With the bat, we didn’t get the start we wanted. There are some great learnings for us heading into the World Cup.”
With this emphatic win, India levelled the series 1-1, setting up a tantalising decider in the third and final ODI.
