Australia Women vs India Women, AUSW vs INDW 2nd T20I, Highlights: India Go Down Fighting To Australia
AUSW vs INDW, 2nd T20I: Australia won the toss and elected to bowl against India at the Carrara Oval in Queensland.
Pooja Vastrakar put on a fine exhibition of power-hitting as her superb 36 not out off 27 balls took India to 118 after they were reeling at 81 for nine against Australia in the second Women's T20 International on Saturday. Vasktrakar hit three fours and two sixes at the back end to ensure that India don't embarrass themselves on a track which was good for batting. Even though the score is below-par against Australia but Vastrakar's clean hits at least gave them something to fight for. Interestingly, India were 81 for nine after the 17th over and in the last three overs, the tourists scored 37 with Vastrakar making all the runs in the company of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who could not open her account. After an impressive show in the first game where their fearless batting was lauded, Indian batters flattered to deceive as none save skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (28 off 20 balls) showed the intent of taking the attack back to the opposition. Instead, there was an inexplicable batting collapse with the hit-pairing of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma falling to Tayla Vlaeminck's (2/18) pace. Then, spinners Sophie Molineux (2/11 in 4 overs) and Ashleigh Gardner (1/12 in 4 overs) stifled the batters during the middle overs with 27 dot balls and three wickets, which broke the backbone of their batting.
Australia Women
India Women
Live Cricket Score, AUSW vs INDW
Right then, that is all we have from this game but there's one more match left. The final T20I and also the final game of this multi-format series will be played on 10th October. That match will start at 6:10 pm local (8:10 am GMT). Do join us for that. Till then, goodbye and take cheers!
PLAYER OF THE MATCH, Tahlia McGrath says that India bowled well and they are happy to win the multi-format series. The Indian bowlers showed how good the wicket was for bowlers and cross-seam deliveries were important. Mentions that it's always special playing for the national side and she enjoys it. Adds that the final match should be a close one as well and they will look to assess the Indian bowlers today and adjust accordingly.
The skipper of India Women, Harmanpreet Kaur says that they were 20 odd runs short. Mentions that the wicket wasn't easy to bat on. Tells that they had a good game and didn't give them easy runs. Tells that they fought till the very end. About Pooja, she says that she has the talent and she gets runs for the team whenever needed. Further says that she knows Australia is a great side and they need to come out with good plans and a good approach against them.
The skipper of Australia Women, Meg Lanning says that they bowled and fielded really well and it was their best fielding performance in the series. Applauds Vastrakar for her innings but still feels that the opponents were 15-20 runs short. Also commends McGrath for her match-winning knock. Adds that it's always good when there is a challenge in front of them and that is what makes players better.
Earlier in the day, after electing to bowl, Australia had India under the mat after at 81 for 9. Pooja Vastrakar though played a blinder down the order. That total never seemed enough but Indian bowlers did a tremendous job. However, Tahlia kept her head, played a brilliant knock, and helped the Aussies take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series but most importantly win the multi-format series.
Not the best of days for the Australian batters but they needed just two from their long batting line-up to actually play a good innings and Tahlia and Mooney provided it. When wickets were falling, Mooney held fort at one end and she always managed to find a boundary here and there to release the pressure. She along with Tahlia got the chase back on track. Once she fell though, McGrath took the responsibility, she too had wickets falling at the other end but the all-rounder stayed till the end and won her side the game
India Women needed wickets and that is what they got! They had Australia 4 down even before they crossed 50 and also did not let them score freely. Gayakwad was brilliant. Pandey too was really good with the new ball. The others also stuck to their task well. At one stage, they put the pressure back onto Australia but have to say, it was India's fielding that let them down. There could have been a couple of boundaries that could have been stopped, also a few chances which were not taken, and in the end, that cost them the game.
What a game of cricket! Never thought after the first innings, when India just put up 118, this would go down to the wire but the spirit of this Indian side, the never-give-up attitude has seen them make a game out of this. Yes, they did not defend it but have to commend the effort they put in.
That's it, Tahlia McGrath has seen her team through and Australia Women win the multi-format series as well. On off and McGrath gets an inside edge back onto the pads. The ball rolls onto the off side and McGrath scampers through for the winning run. AUSTRALIA WOMEN WIN BY 4 WICKETS!
Back of a length, on middle. McGrath pulls it towards mid-wicket for a single. Scores are level.
On middle and Wareham eases it down to long on for another one. Just 2 needed now.
Full and straight, drilled down to long on for one.
Full toss, on the pads. McGrath flicks it past square leg and picks up a couple.
FOUR! You just can't give any width to Tahlia McGrath because she'll punish you just like that. Fullish ball, outside off. McGrath steps out again and hammers it through covers for another boundary. 6 needed off 10 balls.
FOUR! Is that the game then? Full toss, on middle. Tahlia McGrath dances down the track and thumps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary. The youngster, Renuka Singh under immense pressure now.
Renuka Singh has been given the responsibility to bowl the penultimate over. Surprising tactics from Kaur. Normally you give the team's best bowler the 19th over, so that there are plenty of runs to defend in the final over. She has not bowled badly but considering that Renuka has debuted just a day ago, this is going to be massive pressure on her young shoulders
FOUR! What a shot from Georgia Wareham. Pitched up, around off. Wareham hangs back and absolutely creams this one over extra cover and picks up a boundary. 14 needed now off 12 balls.
Full and again this is drilled down the ground for a single.
Full and wide again, Wareham taps it to cover for one.
FOUR! Pandey goes for the wide yorker but ends up serving a half volley. Wareham drives it beautifully through cover-point and the fielder fails to cut it off in the deep. A welcome boundary for Australia Women.