FROM v IND [W] 2024/25, AUS-W vs IND-W 1st ODI Match Report, December 05, 2024

Australia 102 for 5 (Voll 46*, Litchfield 35, Renuka 3-45, Mishra 2-11) beat India 100 (Rodrigues 23, Schutt 5-19, Sutherland 1-13) by five wickets

In a disastrous start in their bid to win a first series over Australia in Australia, India were unable to capitalise on good batting conditions as they lost wickets regularly to be bowled out for just 100 in the 35th over. It was India’s lowest total in women’s ODIs since being dismissed for 79 by Australia in 2012 at Wankhede.

Attempting to defend such a low total, India’s bowling attack was sent on a hiding to nothing as openers Voll and Phoebe Litchfield quickly put on 48. Litchfield blasted 35 off 29 balls, including six boundaries in a row, before her dismissal triggered a collapse with Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney falling in quick succession to fast bowler Renuka Singh.

But Voll, 21, showcased maturity and continued her strong form from the WBBL to finish unbeaten on 46 off 42 balls as Australia clinched victory in only the 17th over.

India ultimately rued a disastrous batting performance that quickly nosedived against outstanding new-ball bowling from Schutt, who produced menacing outswing to finish with her first five-wicket haul in ODIs.

India were unable to muster partnerships with a number of batters succumbing to poor shot selections, while their running between the wickets was sloppy. Conversely, it was an almost flawless display from a fired-up Australia with Tahlia McGrath pulling all the right moves as she fills in for injured regular skipper Alyssa Healy in this three-match series.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur surprisingly decided to bat first on a ground where teams have traditionally chased well. But a flat surface and typically humid Brisbane conditions may have swayed her as she backed a new-look India top order.

Having only played three ODIs since 2023, Priya Punia was selected to open alongside Smriti Mandhana in a golden opportunity to cement her place in the team. She faced up to Schutt immediately and scored off the first ball before Mandhana unfurled several gorgeous strokes in an encouraging start.

But it was downhill for India once Mandhana was caught behind after attempting to cut a wide delivery from Schutt, who smartly changed the angle by going around the wicket. Coming back from a long injury layoff, Harleen Deol hoped to stamp herself at No.3 in a position India have struggled to fill.

But Deol and Punia were pinned down and they struggled to rotate strike as pressure built. It proved too much for Punia who holed out to backward square having made just 3 off 17 balls. At 19 for 2 in the seventh over, Harmanpreet entered the crease much earlier than she would have hoped. India’s uncertain running between the wickets almost accounted for Harmanpreet on 2, but Alana King missed a shy at the stumps from midwicket.

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