Oz women crush India, seal series

Vadodara, March 16

The Southern Stars from Australia reasserted their supremacy with a comprehensive 60-run victory against the Indian women as they sealed the three-match series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead.
After suffering an eight-wicket loss in the opening game, India were outplayed in all the departments as Australia scored a healthy 287/9 and then bowled out Mithali Raj’s brigade for 227 in 49.2 overs.
A target of 288 in women’s cricket is a tall order but pint-sized opener Punam Raut’s lack of power hurt the Indian team badly as she undid all the hardwork done by her opening partner Smriti Mandhana (67 off 53 balls).
While Mandhana hit 12 boundaries and a straight six, Raut was not even able to rotate the strike. Her 27 off 61 balls was a major factor in India losing the match. Her ultra defensive batting put so much pressure on Mandhana that her attempted slog sweep off left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen (3/51) landed at deep fine-leg.
Skipper Mithali Raj (15) hit three boundaries but a mis-timed pull off Ellyse Perry (2/41) landed in Alyssa Healy’s gloves. Her decision to keep Deepti Sharma (26 off 45 balls) at No. 3 also backfired. Left-hander Deepti, like opener Raut, does not has the power to hit big shots like Harmanpreet Kaur or Veda Krishnamurthy. Deepti also wasted many deliveries during the middle overs.
When Harmanpreet (17 off 26 balls) finally came in at No. 5 it was already a big ask with 165 runs required in just over 25 overs. Harmanpreet and Veda (2) were out within a space of four runs and India’s challenge virtually ended in a whimper.
It was left to Pooja Vastrakar (30 off 33 balls) to use the long handle to good effect as India managed to cross the 200-run mark.
Earlier, opener Nicole Bolton struck 84 off 88 balls to bag her second Player-of-the-Match award.