The second round of the three-match T20I series took place on Sunday night at the DY Patil Stadium, and India lost by six wickets, failing to build on their 1-0 start to the series on Friday. When India lost the toss, it all began. Alyssa Healy, the captain of Australia, said that her team knew precisely how much to chase in addition to the heavy dew. Their bowlers were outstanding, so they did not need to chase a huge target of just 131. Australia devised traps that the Indians fell into.
Shafali Verma, the half-centurion from the previous evening, was leg before Kim Garth, the medium-pacer who came in to replace Darcie Brown in the previous match, in the second over of the game, signalling a calm start for India, India struggled to get going fluidly, save for a few stunning shots from Jemimah Rodrigues (who picked speedy Megan Schutt for two consecutive fours) and Richa Ghosh. In Garth’s second over, Rodrigues became her second victim.
In the final Powerplay over, Smriti Mandhana’s six off Kim Garth at mid-wicket offered some hope that she and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian batter, may take control. But in the first over of the fast, Mandhana was bowled out by Annabel Sutherland, who pulled the ball straight to Ellyse Perry at deep midwicket.
Perry, who is celebrating her 300th appearance for her country, was back in action when Harmanpreet found her at deep backward square-leg, swiping off spinner Ashleigh Gardner, Even though Ghosh played attacking strokes and got an edge to soar over the wicketkeeper, it was difficult to get runs as well. Prior to being run out on the final delivery of the innings due to Perry’s throw from square leg to the stumper, Deepti Sharma stroked her way to the highest score for India with thirty. Healy provided Australia a strong start by skillfully navigating Renuka Singh’s nine deliveries.
Healy went after off-spinner Shreyanka Patil and other spinners Titas Sadhu, who was named player of the match on Friday, for fours.
Healy, on the other hand, became the first of Deepti’s two victims when she holed out to long-on fielder Shreyanka Patil following the formation of her fourteenth partnership with Beth Mooney. In the following over, Mooney trailed her captain and was eventually stumped by Deepti, Australia was unaffected by Perry’s (34 not out) beautiful shots to stay in the game, as she went from 51-0 to 58-2 in seven deliveries. Her second six, off Patil, over midwicket, sealed the victory and advanced the series to Tuesday’s conclusion. The visitors’ task was made simpler by Perry’s third wicket partnership of 31 with Tahlia McGrath and 36 for an uninterrupted fifth wicket stand with Phoebe Litchfield.
