Though rain tried hard to help Australia from losing the
match and ultimately the T20 series, there was no stopping the women in blue
today at Melbourne. The intentions were right and they came out strong to face
the mighty Aussies, riding on their previous win earlier this week.
Winning the toss and electing to field first, India bowlers
and fielders did a good job, restricting Australia to 125-8 in 17.5 overs in
the rain curtailed match. Australian skipper Meg Lanning batted well but was
unlucky to get run out for 49 runs. The Indian fielders were as swift as a
wind, accounting for two crucial run outs. Jess Jonassen chipped in with over a
run a ball 27, but there was nobody lower down the order to capitalize on the
start provided by the top order. At one stage Australia was cruising at 103-4
in 13.1 overs, but with the fall of Lanning, rest of the batting line-up
collapsed like a pack of cards. Indian bowlers cashed on Lanning’s wicket and
made a strong comeback in the game. Jhulan Goswami and Rameshwari Gayakwad
picked up two wickets apiece.
Chasing 126 runs in 18 overs was always going to be tricky.
However the experience of Mithali Raj (37*) and composure of Smriti Mandhana
(22*) came in handy for the visitors. Both of them played exceedingly well, scored
runs easily and pierced the gaps with surgical precision. The match was further
reduced to a 10 over game, due to rain, with India chasing 66 runs of 10 overs.
It was a cake walk for the visitors as they were already off to a flyer with 51
for no loss in 7.3 overs, just before it started raining again. It was a
clinical performance from the Indians as they chased down the revised target in
just 9.1 overs. India’s premium medium pace bowler Jhulan Goswami was adjudged
as the Man of the Match for her brilliant bowling figures of 2-16 in four
overs.
India leads the three match series 2-0, with one match to
go. Sydney will host the third and the last match of the T20 series which will
be played on the Super Sunday.
Brief scores: Australia
Women 125-8 in 17.5 overs (M Lanning 49, J Jonassen 27; J Goswami 2-16, R
Gayakwad 2-27) lost to India Women 69-0 in 9.1 overs (M Raj 37*, S Mandhana 22*)
by 10 wickets (Duckworth-Lewis method)
No comments:
Post a Comment