INDW vs AUSW: Just a week after demolishing Australia in the one-off Test, Indias womens ODI series hopes went up in smoke as the Alyssa Healy-led side held their nerve in a nail-biting finish at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium. Chasing the target of 259, India looked spectacularlycomfortable as they posted 215/3 in the 44th over. The Indian innings crumbled as they finished at 255/8 in 50 handing Australia a series-clinching victory by 3 runs.The match went down to the very last over but its Australia who win by 3 runs at the end. #TeamIndia will aim to bounce back in the 3rd & Final ODI.Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/yDjyu27FoW#INDvAUS | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/6j0EHRUlsw— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 30, 2023India got off to a steady start in the chase, losing Yastika Bhatia early but rebuilding well through Smriti Mandhana (34), Richa Ghosh (96), and Jemimah Rodrigues (44). Ghosh, battling cramps and knee issues, played a phenomenal fighting knock, exploiting field gaps to reach 96. Just when a century seemed certain, a miscued drive to cover ended her valiant innings. Her dismissal triggered a late-order collapse in the middle order.WHAT. A. KNOCK! 🙌@13richaghosh falls four runs short of a remarkable ton 👏👏#TeamIndia 224/6 in the 46th over.Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/yDjyu27FoW#INDvAUS | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/PEr9MUlBJz— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 30, 2023However, the blame shouldnt solely rest on the lower order. Indias seven dropped catches throughout the game, coupled with poor ground fielding, proved costly. Australia, put on notice by Deepti Sharmas exceptional five-wicket haul (10-0-38-5), the first-ever by an Indian bowler against them in ODIs, managed to post a competitive 258/8. Litchfields 63 and Ellyse Perrys 50 helped Australia to post the defendable total.Brief ScorecardAustralia Women: 258/8 in 50.0 Overs (Phoebe Litchfield 63, Ellyse Perry 50 Deepti Sharma 5/38)India Women: 255/8 in 50.0 Overs (Richa Ghosh 96, Jemimah Rodrigues 44 Annabel Sutherland 3/47)Result: Australia Women won by 3 runsPlayer of the Match: Annabel Sutherland
