In a thrilling women’s ODI series decider at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 20, Australia edged out India by 43 runs to clinch the three-match series 2-1. The game delivered non-stop action, with a record-breaking 748 runs scored—the highest total ever in a women’s ODI—featuring 99 fours and 12 sixes that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Australia set the bar sky-high, smashing 412 all out in 47.5 overs on a flat pitch under the hot afternoon sun. Beth Mooney stole the show with a blistering career-best 138 off just 75 balls, including 23 fours and one six. She reached her fourth ODI century in only 57 balls, powering Australia’s joint-highest score in women’s ODIs and the biggest total ever against India in the format.
The Australian innings kicked off strong with Alyssa Healy racing to 30 off 20 balls, hitting seven boundaries before Kranti Goud dismissed her for the third time in the series. Georgia Voll then fired up with 81 off 71 balls—her first ODI fifty against India—laced with 14 fours. She survived three dropped catches and misfields to build a solid 107-run stand with Ellyse Perry, who smashed 68 off 78 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
Perry and Voll punished India’s sloppy fielding and inconsistent bowling, racing to 77/1 in the powerplay—their best since 2019. After Voll fell to a top-edged sweep, Mooney joined Perry and kept the momentum rolling with a 106-run partnership. She toyed with the bowlers, finding gaps and using the short boundaries to her advantage. Even as India grabbed late wickets—Arundhati Reddy taking 3-86 and Deepti Sharma 2-75—Alana King and Georgia Wareham added quick boundaries to push past 400, the seventh time a women’s team has breached that mark in ODIs.
India’s chase started like a dream, thanks to opener Smriti Mandhana’s explosive 125 off 81 balls—the fastest century by an Indian woman in ODIs, reached in just 50 balls. She hammered 17 fours and five sixes, starting with a punchy four off Kim Garth and a hat-trick of boundaries against Megan Schutt. Mandhana brought up her fifty in a stunning 23 balls, drawing massive cheers from the packed crowd as they chanted her name.
Despite Pratika Rawal falling early for 10, Mandhana survived a dropped catch and powered on, slog-sweeping Alana King for six to hit her ton. She teamed up with captain Harmanpreet Kaur for a 121-run stand, with Harmanpreet notching 52 off 42 balls. India crossed 96/2 in the powerplay—their best ever—and became the first team to post 300-plus while chasing against Australia in women’s ODIs. But Australia’s bowlers, led by Kim Garth’s 3-69, struck back. Mandhana top-edged a pull to fall, and Harmanpreet got lbw soon after a knee injury break slowed things.
Deepti Sharma fought hard with 72 off 63 balls—her 15th ODI fifty—adding boundaries and partnering with Sneh Rana for 65 runs. Richa Ghosh chipped in with lusty hits, but quick wickets of Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, and others tumbled India to 369 all out in 47 overs. Deepti holed out late, and Sneh and Renuka Singh fell in the death overs as Australia held firm.
This high-scoring women’s cricket clash showcased Australia’s strength ahead of defending their Women’s ODI World Cup title, while India showed grit despite fielding errors and bowling struggles. Smriti’s knock and the record aggregate will be talked about for years in India vs Australia women’s ODI highlights.
Brief scores: Australia 412 all out in 47.5 overs (Beth Mooney 138, Georgia Voll 81; Arundhati Reddy 3-86, Deepti Sharma 2-75) beat India 369 all out in 47 overs (Smriti Mandhana 125, Deepti Sharma 72; Kim Garth 3-69, Megan Schutt 2-53) by 43 runs.
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