World Champions India lost the three-match ODI series against Australia with a match to spare as they suffered a five-wicket loss in the second game at Hobart on Friday. Georgia Voll slammed a century and Phoebe Litchfield struck 80 as the Australians asserted their domination over the Indians in a comprehensive victory with 13.5 overs to spare.
The Australians, who had lost to India in the semifinal of the World Cup a couple of months ago, showed that they still are the queens of the ODI format.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first. The move seemed to have paid off as openers Pratika Rawal, who is back from an injury she suffered during the World Cup, and Smriti Mandhana added 78 for the first wicket. Though the run rate was slow, it was a solid foundation for the Indians to build upon.
But after Smriti was bowled by Ashleigh Gardner for a 37-ball 31, India lost their way. Jemimah Rodrigues (11), Pratika and Deepti Sharma (1) left in the span of five runs. From 98 for one, India slipped to 103 for four. Pratika was run out after making 52 with six hits to the fence.
Thereafter, India were unable to build a substantial partnership as Harmanpreet held on to one end. She lacked support from the other end though Richa Ghosh (22), Kashvee Gautam (25) and Kranti Gaud (19) got starts but failed to build upon it.
Harmanpreet was the eighth wicket to fall at 241 after she made a topscore of 54 off 70 balls with two fours and a six. India were restricted to 251 for nine as the Australian bowlers gave the visitors no room to score runs.
Voll hits ton, Litchfield makes 80
Australia, in reply, lost skipper Alyssa Healy (6) cheaply but Litchfield and Voll, who had scored a duck in the previous game, took the attack to the Indian camp. The duo added 119 for the second wicket to allay all fears.
Litchfield fell to Gaud after making a 62-ball 80 with 11 fours and a six. Beth Mooney joined Voll and the duo added 82 for the third wicket which sealed the issue. Voll fell for 101 off 82 balls with 13 fours and six but by that time the issue was settled. Australia made 252 for five in 36.1 overs.
Earlier, India had won the T20I series 2-1, but the ODI series has proved to be a different ball game altogether. It remains to be seen if the Indians will salvage some pride in the final game to be played at the same venue on March 1.
Brief scores: India 251 for nine in 50 overs (Pratika Rawal 52, Smriti Mandhana 31, Harmanpreet Kaur 54, Richa Ghosh 22, Kashvee Gautam 25; Annabel Sutherland 2/37, Ashleigh Gardner 2/39, Alana King 2/41) lost to Australia 252 for five in 36.1 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 80, Georgia Voll 101, Beth Mooney 31; Kashvee Gautam 2/47, Deepti Sharma 2/32).
