With the sun shining brightly down on Bellerive Oval, India saw an opportunity. The multi-format series between these two sides was delicately poised, and a strong total in this innings could have put them ahead in the series. What they produced instead was a mixture of composure and carelessness.
In the second ODI of the series, India posted 251 runs for the loss of nine wickets against the Australia women’s national cricket team. While it is a competitive score, it feels as though they could have achieved far more.
Rawal Sets the Platform
Pratika Rawal opened the batting for India, exhibiting a calm confidence. After struggling early on in Brisbane, she came back with poise that has been unexpected from a 16-year-old. Rawal played correctly through the hole set up by the pace attack.
To put this into perspective, Pratika and Smriti Mandhana had a 78-run partnership in the opening wicket; while the first partnership was steady, it gave a solid start for their innings, with Rawal scoring her half-century off 76 balls and looking likely to score many more.
Mandhana had some difficulty finding a rhythm of her own. Despite a dropped catch, she edged a boundary; however, after that, she didn’t find any rhythm. In the end, Ashleigh Gardner bowled her out, exposing one of her known weaknesses once again.
Collapse in the Middle
After starting positively at 78 without loss, India’s batting collapsed as they lost 5 wickets for 52 runs, aided by a combination of confusion, poor shot selection and accurate Australian bowling. Annabel Sutherland got bounce and took the wicket of Jemimah Rodrigues. Alana King bowled well in the middle overs and took 2 wickets, while Ashleigh Gardner also took 2. A horrible mix-up ended Rawal’s resistance shortly before Deepti Sharma succumbed to the same fate, leaving India’s innings in jeopardy going into the second half with the need to accelerate off the remaining overs. Australia were very sloppy in the field, having dropped several chances and missing numerous half chances before their bowlers quickly regrouped. Without Sophie Molineux, eliminated due to injury, each of their bowlers effectively bore the brunt of this collapse.
Harmanpreet’s Steady Hand
Once again, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained composed enough to make 54. While doing this, she held off some harshness and was methodical in how she picked her moments to score runs.
With Kashvee Gautam, she managed a critical partnership worth 55 runs. While it was not a big flashy score by either player, they needed those runs. Unfortunately, Richa Ghosh could not turn her early hitting into runs except for a six.
However, as a result of Harmanpreet’s performance, India was able to get to 250 runs, which gave their bowlers something to defend against their opponent.
A Total with Questions Attached
At one stage, India eyed 280 or more. Instead, reckless passages left them short of a commanding score. The surface offered runs. The opportunity was there.
Now the contest rests with the bowlers. In a tight series, margins matter. India has posted a fighting total. Whether it proves enough will define the evening.
