- India Women's cricket team beat Australia Women by 102 runs in New Chandigarh
- Smriti Mandhana hit a century from 77 balls, supporting India's score
- The match picked out India's increasing prowess in women's cricket
The Indian Women’s cricket team achieved a historic win against the Australian Women by 102 runs, the worst defeat for Australia in women's ODIs.
This performance was evidence of the increasing stature of Indian women's cricket with precision bowling effort and Smriti Mandhana’s century off just 77 balls.
India batted first and reached a total of 292 all out in 49.5 overs with Smriti achieving her 12th ODI century (and her century off 77 balls which equals Gunjan's record).
Smriti didn’t have the pressure from Australia who bowled tight lines but rather she remained aggressively attacking with a quick run-scoring rate while establishing the foundation of India’s innings.
Deepti Sharma took the opportunity when required with 40 runs, accounting for superb support, while Jemimah Rodrigues was missing from the team due to illness.
Smriti’s century is up there with one of the fastest by an Indian woman in ODIs, further displaying her ability as one of the most dependable opening batters in the world.
Chasing a target of 293 became a challenge to Australia due to the Indian bowling attack. Kranti Goud took three first-inning wickets via some surprising top-order dismissals.
Renuka Singh returned from injury and opened the bowling with a tidy first spell, picking up the wicket of Georgia Voll early on.
Ellyse Perry (44) and Annabel Sutherland (45) put up some resistance, but an impressive spell of consistent bowling via Deepti and Sneh Rana saw Australia bowled out for 190.
Historically, the Australia Women have been one of the most successful teams in world cricket, winning seven World Cups. But in the past, they have also suffered massive defeats, including:
92 runs against England, Birmingham 1973, 88 runs against India, Chennai 2004, 82 runs against New Zealand, Lincoln 2008, 84 runs against South Africa, North Sydney 2024
Smriti’s quick-fire 100 runs off 77 balls set the tempo for all of India’s innings. At the top of the order, Kranti's 3 wickets dismantled any quest Australia had for another victory. Renuka sparked action with an early breakthrough.
The team used disciplined bowling by Deepti and Sneh to take the comfortable victory home.
India's victory showcases the team’s ability to compete and beat the best teams in the world. The use of power batting combined with disciplined bowling exemplified a balanced squad that heralded the arrival of India as a future power in women's international cricket.
