AUS W vs IND W | 3rd T20I: Indian Women succumb to run rate pressure as Australia take T20I series 2-0

India Women suffered yet another defeat to go down 2-0 in the three-match T20I series against Australia Women, and also lost the all-format series by a margin of 5-11. Tahlia McGrath, who was the lone ranger and hero from the last game for Australia, played yet another brilliant innings and supported Beth Mooney as the two helped Aussie get to a total, which was troublesome for the Indian women. 

Along with McGrath and Mooney, economical spells from Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland also played their part in getting Indian batter bogged down and commit mistakes under the pressure of the required run rate. 

India, who were set a target of 150 to win in the match and draw the T20I series, got off to the worst possible start, losing Shafali Verma in the very first over. Smriti Mandhan and Jemimah Rodriguez then stitched a partnership to get things moving. But in an attempt to up the ante, Rodriguez was caught by Tayla Vlaeminck off the bowling of leg spinner Georgia Wareham. 

Smriti also got out after completing her fifty in the 15th over as the required rate pressure kept piling up. Soon, skipper Harmanpreet and Pooja Vastrakar, who was sent up the order, also went back to the pavilion. 

With Harleen Deol’s wicket on the first ball of the 18th over, women in blue lost four wi kets in a span of 10 runs and 14 balls, making the already difficult chase even more difficult. 

With 18th and 19th over resulting in a total of just 12 runs, India Women needed to get 35 off the last over to win the game. Though they couldn’t get 36, some brilliant shots from Richa Ghosh meant that the loss didn’t look that bad, as India remained only 14 short of the Aussie total. 

Earlier in the day, after winning the toss and deciding to field first, the Indian team did get the early breakthrough in the form of Alyssa Healy. But the Aussie thereafter kept building required partnerships to eventually end with 149-5 in their 20 overs. Tahlia McGrath was awarded both Player of the Match as well as Series. 

Having already lost the ODI series 2-1, which could have had a different outcome if the second match, which was decided on the last ball had a different outcome. In the Test match, India were once again the better team but had to settle with a draw due to rain. However, in T20Is, the difference between the two teams was stark. And even as the first game was washed out, the hosts won the remaining two.