IND-W vs AUS-W, Review | Smriti Mandhana impresses with incredible century as Women in Blue level series against Aussies

‌Australia Women put India into bat on what seemed to be a slightly slowish track in Chandigarh. Though the two openers had a steady approach in the first six overs, they started to score their runs at a brisk rate towards the end of the powerplay. Both Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal were looking set after the first 10 overs, with the score reading 64/0. The partnership was moving along strongly until Rawal was foxed by a nice flighted delivery outside off stump by Ashleigh Gardner and ended up chipping a simple catch to Georgia Wareham in the cover region. Despite the soft dismissal of Rawal, Mandhana upped the scoring rate with some aggressive strokes while Harleen Deol took her time at the crease. However, as soon as the partnership of 49 started to look dangerous, Deol was run out for just 10 after a horrible mix-up with Mandhana by Alana King, who made an incredible stop after running from mid-wicket to the long-on region. Unfortunately for the Aussie bowlers, Mandhana’s onslaught did not end as she continued to score her runs freely and was supported well by India Women’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur at the other end. Though Kaur was dismissed for just 17 by Gardner after giving a simple catch to Annabel Sutherland at backward point, the Women in Blue were still in a strong position at 153/3 after 26 overs. With Mandhana looking set at the crease and Deepti Sharma rotating the strike at the other end, a 300+ score seemed certain. Unfortunately, Mandhana’s knock of 117 off 91 deliveries came to an end in the 33rd over after holding out to Gardner at deep mid-wicket off Tahlia McGrath.There was a bit of a break in the scoring rate after the centurion’s dismissal, but Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma started to find their feet towards the end of the second powerplay as they took the Indian total to 235/4 after 40 overs. While it seemed like the partnership would take them to a huge score, Annabel Sutherland broke the partnership in the 42nd over with the wicket of Ghosh. Though Deepti tried to keep the scoreboard moving, she continued to run out of partners at the other end as Darcy Brown got the hosts on the back foot with a couple of strikes. The situation got worse as Brown came back to dismiss Deepti on a score of 40 in the 47th over. Though spin-bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana managed to play a useful cameo of 24 off 18 deliveries, the Women in Blue still fell eight runs short of the 300 mark and bowled out for 292 in the end. 

Though the Aussies managed to dominate the majority of the last 10 overs, they failed to follow it up with the bat. Alyssa Healy and Georgia Voll were dismissed early as Indian pacers Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Goud created problems early. While Voll chopped on a delivery from Thakur , Healy flicked the ball straight down deep square leg's throat as the Southern Stars were restricted to a score of 26/2 after the powerplay. There was some respite for the Aussies as Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry formed a slow and steady 50-run stand, but Sneh Rana came to the rescue in the 16th over to dismiss Mooney in the 17th over with the score at 62/3. Despite the dismissal of one of their key batters, Perry kept the scoreboard moving and was supported by quick-paced innings by Annabel Sutherland at the other end. The duo had put on 46 off 45 deliveries for the fourth wicket and threatened to take the game away from the hosts. Unfortunately, Perry’s calm and composed knock of 44 came to an end in the 25th over by Radha Yadav, who took an incredible diving catch off her own bowling. With the first half of the chase completed, the Australians were still in a tricky position at 108/4. Though Sutherland continued to score runs after Perry’s dismissal to keep the game in the balance, her innings was brought to a halt as she fell victim to a brilliant catch by the Indian skipper in the cover region. With this dismissal, the Aussies' struggles continued as the score read 134/5 after 30 overs. After Sutherland’s dismissal, the Aussie hopes started to dwindle as Deepti dismissed the last recognized batters in Garner and Tahlia McGrath. In the end, the Aussies were bowled out for 190 runs, and India Women kept the series alive with a massive 102-run win.

Mandhana was rightfully adjudged the player of the match for her incredible century at the top. Her 117-knock consisted of 14 beautiful boundaries and four maximums.