Australia’s highly successful women’s cricket team faced India in a crucial third Twenty20 international. Despite a challenging target of 148, Australia secured the series with a comfortable victory. Alyssa Healy played a key role, scoring 55 off 38 balls, while Beth Mooney contributed an unbeaten 52 off 45 balls. Other notable performances came from Tahlia McGrath (20 off 15) and Phoebe Litchfield (17 not out off 13). Australia’s bowlers, Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham, played well as India posted 147 for 6.
Interestingly, luck played a part in Australia’s win. Winning the toss was the first stroke of luck, as the team batting second had won 12 of the previous 15 women’s games at the Navi Mumbai venue. Another stroke of luck occurred when Healy, on 38, seemed to be caught brilliantly by Jemimah Rodrigues. However, a TV review, after nearly three minutes, showed inconclusive evidence, and Healy continued her innings. This turn of events visibly affected the Indian team, and Healy went on to score her 16th 50 in her 150th T20I. Although Healy was eventually out, Australia continued to cruise towards the target, adding 25 runs quickly to secure the win.
“When you are chasing a total like that, the quicker you get it down to a run a ball it’s better,” Healy said.
“It gives the team an opportunity to get the chase done and if there are wickets falling in the middle it makes it easier for those coming on. That’s my job, to get us off to a good start and get the run-rate down.”
Earlier, Sutherland, the priciest player in the upcoming WIPL auction at $364,000, impressed Delhi Capitals fans at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy ground by taking 2-12 in four economical overs. Wareham also contributed with 2-24 in her four overs. However, the rest of Australia’s bowlers were unexpectedly costly. Megan Schutt (1-36) found solace in becoming the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20s with 131, thanks to a well-disguised slower ball that dismissed Shafali Verma.
