Recent Match Report – AUS Women vs IND Women 3rd T20I 2021/22

The hosts beat India 11-5 in the multi-format series, but the competition was much tighter than that

Australia Women 149 for 5 (Mooney 61, McGrath 44 *, Gayakwad 2-37) defeated India Women 135 for 6 (Mandhana 52, Ghosh 23 *, Rodrigues 23, Carey 2-42) by 14 runs

After a series of close encounters through the ODI, the solitary test and the first two T20Is, Australia Women finished the multi-format series against India Women with a 14 point victory in the third and final T20I. Australia scored 149 for 5, and although India showed courage at some points in the chase, it finished with 135 for 6.

The victory was set up by sparkling innings from top-of-the-order Beth Mooney and No.6 Tahlia McGrath, with both achieving substantial scores at a rapid pace. Mooney made 61 of 43, hitting ten fours and batting until 18. The rest of the top order couldn’t contribute much as Indian bowlers took wickets around Mooney. Meg Lanning, who had a disappointing streak by her own high standards, was knocked out by Rajeshwari Gayakwad becoming the first Australian and the seventh overall to be fired in this way.

However, with Mooney in the fold and steadily finding the limit, the scoring rate remained healthy. McGrath came in at 73 for 4 in 11.1 overs, and the two scored 44 runs in 6.1 overs – the highest partnership of innings – to ensure Australia were on track for a total competitive.

Mooney was on the hunt for another big hit, grabbed by a Harmanpreet Kaur dive to become Gayakwad’s second wicket. McGrath, who was 25 of 23 at the time, finished with a blitz, winning 19 points on his last eight balls as the last 2.4 overs brought in 32 points.

India’s pursuit depended on the top order, but in the top five only Smriti Mandhana scored, making 52 of 49, while the others came out for a number or scored less than a ball. This was despite the fact that Ellyse Perry didn’t play a single ball in the match. With 58 needed of 32, Mandhana was looking for a big hit but was caught by Lanning off Nicola Carey.

Before Mandhana’s fall, India was 92 to 2 and although the required rate was high, it looked like they could mount a final charge. However, they slipped to 102 for 6 in the space of 15 balls, and after that it was all about reducing the defeat margin.

Goalkeeper Richa Ghosh did it with an entertaining final, taking Carey for 21 races to spoil her numbers and remind one last that although the score was 11-5 for Australia in the multi-format series, the contest was much closer than that. .