(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Australia kicked off their World Cup preparations with a dominant eight-wicket victory over India in the first ODI at New Chandigarh on Sunday. The Aussie batters put on a stellar show, chasing down 282 in just 44.1 overs—almost six overs to spare—for a clinical win.
Chasing a tricky total, Australia openers Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield got things rolling with a solid 45-run stand. Healy scored 27 off 33 balls before falling to Kranti Goud. Ellyse Perry then joined Litchfield, but Perry had to retire hurt after 30 off 38 due to a calf strain. Beth Mooney stepped in as her replacement.
Litchfield stole the spotlight, smashing her way to 88 off 80 balls with 14 fours. She reached her fifty in the 15th over and helped Australia cross 100 runs in the next. Sneh Rana finally dismissed her in the 27th over, but by then, the damage was done.
Annabel Sutherland then teamed up with Mooney for a match-winning 100-plus partnership. They took Australia past 200 in the 33rd over, with Mooney on 39 and Sutherland on 16. Mooney cruised to her fifty off just 45 balls, and the duo ramped up the scoring to seal the chase. Sutherland also notched up her half-century as Australia finished strong.
India’s fielding let them down big time in the second innings. They dropped four catches—including two off Litchfield at 0 and 56—and made several misfields, making it tough to claw back.
Earlier, India won the toss and chose to bat first, posting 281/7 in 50 overs. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal built a strong 114-run foundation, both hitting fifties. Rawal made 64 off 96 with six fours, while Mandhana scored 58 off 63, including six fours and two sixes.
Harleen Deol added 54 off 57 with four boundaries and two sixes, partnering with Richa Ghosh (25 off 20) for a 46-run fifth-wicket stand that pushed India beyond 200. Australia’s bowlers struck back, with Megan Schutt leading the way at 2/45 in seven overs. Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, and Tahlia McGrath picked up one wicket each.
This win puts Australia in a great spot for the three-match ODI series. India will look to bounce back in the next game and build momentum ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup starting September 30 against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
In a special milestone, Smriti Mandhana overtook New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite to become the seventh-highest run-scorer in ODIs. Mandhana’s knock took her tally to 4,646 runs in 106 matches at an average of 46.46, with 11 centuries and 32 fifties—her best being 136. Satterthwaite had 4,639 runs in 145 innings.
At the top, India’s legend Mithali Raj holds the record with 7,805 runs in 232 matches at 50.68 average, including seven centuries and 64 fifties, with a top score of 125*.
It was also a big day for India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, playing her 150th ODI, though she managed just 11 off nine balls.
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