Sutherland, Litchfield seal sequence for Australia in tight end

Australia 258 for 8 (Litchfield 63, Perry 50, Deepti 5-38) beat India 255 for 8 (Ghosh 96, Sutherland 3-47, Wareham 2-39) by three runs

That just about determined the result, as India paid for poor catching and slowing down with the bat. Though Ghosh sped up regardless of cramping, Georgia Wareham, who had dismissed Rodrigues, struck quickly after to have Harmanpreet Kaur tickle behind to Alyssa Healy for five. Ghosh tried to counterattack in a 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Deepti Sharma, however Australia saved placing at common intervals, thus placing Deepti’s second ODI five-for in useless.

For a number of tense moments, that thought will need to have crossed Australia’s minds too, who had given Ghosh a life every on 0 and 36. The primary one got here from Litchfield herself, placing one down at first slip within the eighth over. Subsequent, it was Sutherland who dropped one within the twenty seventh. That allowed Ghosh to maintain ticking steadily, as she averted dangers in a affected person begin to her innings the place she hit simply two boundaries from her first 52 deliveries.

Even Rodrigues did not fully appear busy on the different finish, because the required run price saved ticking over. However with the sport effectively beneath India’s management, Litchfield struck like lightning and halted India’s calmly transferring prepare. That, after she had hit 63 with the bat. Litchfield was the beneficiary on three of India’s seven drops, getting a life on 0, 9 and 15. Though she consumed 98 deliveries, it was a difficult pitch to bat on on the Wankhede Stadium, the place the ball turned and gripped aplenty for Deepti.

India’s spinners utilized the brakes within the center overs, as Australia stumbled from 117 for 1 within the twenty fourth over to 180 for six within the fortieth. The slowdown occurred as soon as India bowled spin from each ends, though Deepti’s 5 for 38 stood in distinction to debutant Shreyanka Patil and Sneh Rana, who mixed figures of two for 102 from their 20 overs.

However whereas the spinners saved Australia quiet, Ellyse Perry saved the tempo up. She had flicked and flashed her method to 28 from her first 23 balls. Perry ultimately fell for 50 from 47, with Deepti ending her animated keep on the crease within the twenty fourth over. That wicket began Australia’s slide, as Deepti then trapped Beth Mooney, who missed an tried sweep off a faster supply.

Patil too acquired into the wickets within the thirty fourth over, when Litchfield acquired the toe finish of the bat behind to Richa in an try to comb. Rana additionally struck to get Ashleigh Gardner for two, after which got here Deepti’s better of the lot. She tossed one up enticingly at Tahlia McGrath within the fortieth over. The ball dipped and landed simply outdoors the off stump, handing over sufficient to smash into the stumps with McGrath not sure of whether or not to return ahead or return.

At 180 for six, Wareham and Sutherland briefly steadied Australia with a 36-run partnership, earlier than Wareham chipped one off Deepti to Smriti Mandhana – who had dropped two catches earlier – at midwicket to start out the forty sixth over.

4 balls later, Deepti accomplished her five-for with a return catch of Sutherland. Australia have been 219 for 8 with one other 25 balls remaining, and Alana King made full use of that. She swung three sixes – and with that, the momentum – in an unbeaten 28 from 17 balls which helped Australia to 258.
Thus, King’s knock, Litchfield and Perry’s fifties, and a variety of assist from India took Australia to victory, with India but to beat them in a bilateral ODI sequence.