Australia has maintained its record against India in bilateral ODI series, securing a 2-1 victory after a high-octane third and final match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The win extends Australia's unbeaten streak in bilateral series against India, a record that dates back to 1984. The game, which saw nearly 800 runs scored, gives a glimpse of what can be expected of the women’s cricket World Cup, where India faces the defending champions again.
Australia's Beth Mooney set the stage with a 75-ball 138, which included 23 fours and one six. Her innings, played at a strike rate of 184, was supported by half-centuries from Georgia Voll (81) and Ellyse Perry (68), helping Australia post a total of 412. This was the joint-highest total ever scored by Australia in ODIs and only the seventh time a team has crossed the 400-mark in women's ODIs. However, their innings ended in a late collapse, losing six wickets for 34 runs.
India responded with all their might, led by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, they started the chase at a breakneck pace. Mandhana, who had already scored 58 and 117 in the previous two matches, hit the second-fastest century in women’s ODI history, reaching her hundred in just 50 balls, just six balls shy of Meg Lanning's record of 45 balls. Mandhana’s innings also made her the fastest Indian, male or female, to score an ODI century, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 52-ball record. Her partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made a 35-ball 52, added 121 runs in just 69 balls, briefly making the impossible look possible.
Despite the foot on the pedal, the aussies managed to find a way back into the game. The turning point came when both Mandhana and Harmanpreet fell in consecutive overs, with the team at 216 in 21.2 overs. Though Deepti Sharma (72) fought valiantly with a counter-attacking half-century, the target proved too daunting. India fell short by 43 runs, ending with the highest total in a chase in women's ODI history. India's fielding was also a concern, as they dropped three catches, all of them chances to dismiss Georgia Voll.
The match bought out certain realities to the forefront, namely, one of the most important parts of the game, i.e. fielding. It is said that catches win you matches, and it could be in India's stride to accept it wholeheartedly, and concern itself in the outfield. For depite, Australia being the giants they are, they're bound to struggle in the sub-continent, and if the World Cup is more than just a fever dream, India has to learn to make good use of this.