The Indian women’s team held onto their nerves to win a thrilling 2nd T20I match against Australia played at DY Patil Sports Academy on 11 December 2022.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and decided to field first. Alyssa Healy looked in great touch putting pressure on Indian bowlers. On other hand, Beth Mooney struggled to time the ball brilliantly. Deepti Sharma provided the breakthrough by dismissing Healy with a simple catch by Devika Vaidya at the backward point. Tahlia McGrath looked in decent touch as the Australian women made 46 for 1 at the end of the first six overs.
McGrath and Mooney kept the momentum going for Australian women hitting boundaries with ease. Both continued the aggressive form that they displayed in the first ODI maintaining the pressure on Indian bowlers. McGrath completed a half-century off 37 balls while Mooney reached fifty off 38 balls.
Both Australian batters kept the scoreboard ticking as Indian bowlers looked clueless. The Indian fielding and catching was not great. Renuka Singh Thakur bowled a decent final over but McGrath and Mooney added record unbeaten 158 runs for the second wicket. At the end of 20 overs, Australian women posted 187 for 1.
Of thrilling chase & Super Over finish, cracking maximums & brilliant crowd support 👌😎🙌
𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Batting stars @mandhana_smriti & @13richaghosh sum up #TeamIndia's stunning win at the DY Patil Stadium 👍 👍 – By @ameyatilak
Watch 🔽 #INDvAUS https://t.co/9sDTzu19II pic.twitter.com/IKCqBTUjLl
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 12, 2022
Chasing 188 runs to win, Smriti Mandhana looked in great touch putting pressure on the Australian bowlers along with Shafali Verma. Verma was given a reprieve as Megan Schutt drops a simple chance. The Indian openers kept the momentum going as they ended the first six overs at 55 for 0.
Verma and Mandhana kept the pressure on Australian women before Alana King grabbed the wicket of Verma with a simple catch to McGrath. The Indian openers put on 76 runs laying a strong foundation. Heather Graham dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues to put pressure back.
Smriti Mandhana hit the shots brilliantly and kept the momentum going with the required run rate climbing. Harmanpreet Kaur joined the party with some cracking shots. Mandhana completed a half-century off 37 balls to keep the Indian team on course for a win. Graham struck getting rid of Kaur as Mooney took a sharp catch at deep midwicket. Kaur and Mandhana added 61 runs for the third wicket.
Smriti Mandhana chopped onto the stumps trying to hit a boundary. Richa Ghosh provided an attacking display of hitting with big shots against Ash Gardner. Graham bowled a stunning 19th over giving away just 5 runs and picking the wicket of Deepti Sharma.
The match went down the final over as 14 runs were required. Devika Vaidya kept India in the hunt with a boundary off the last ball going into Super Over.
Richa Ghosh hammered Heather Graham for a six first ball before the latter grabbed Ghosh’s wicket. Smriti Mandhana showed her class with 13 runs from three deliveries to help Women in Blue post 20 runs.
Renuka Singh Thakur looked impressive in getting rid of Ash Gardner. Despite Healy’s brilliant shots, Indian women won in the Super Over.
Meanwhile, fans went gaga on Twitter over India’s performance against the defending T20 champions and showered praise on them.
Here are some of the reactions:
What a match it was! 🔥
Heartiest congratulations to the entire team 🥳
Super proud of you @mandhana_smriti & @13richaghosh. You totally nailed it ❤️#INDvsAUS #TeamIndia #SuperOver pic.twitter.com/VDxsXnSfri— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) December 11, 2022
The girls are doing a victory lap around the stadium, they deserve every bit of this. What a match what a super over congratulations WOMEN 🤍#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/nGJfPr7PyE
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) December 11, 2022
We beating Australia. What a day. What a match.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 11, 2022
WHAT A MATCH!!!!! 🙌🏽 🇮🇳
Well played girls, What an incredible victory for @BCCIWomen #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/LZknJgknGM
— Satish Poonia (@DrSatishPoonia) December 11, 2022
Shikhar ko hatao, Mandhana ko Lao !!!!!#INDvAUS
— Vicky kashyap (@Vickyinvincible) December 11, 2022
We won 😭 #INDvAUS
— Anaari (@Bilkul_nahi) December 11, 2022
What a brilliant game by both the teams.. Very rarely we see the MIGHTIEST Australian woman cricket team on back foot.. Go girls chase this 🔥🔥🔥#INDvAUS
— $ampath kumar (@sampathTW) December 11, 2022
Richa Ghosh you have my heart ❤…#INDvAUS
— Jaikaran (@jaikaran24) December 11, 2022
Loved to see the massive support and crowd for our India womens team.. Go girls.. 🔥🇮🇳 @BCCIWomen @BCCI #INDvAUS
— Rahul chaganti (@rahulchaganti27) December 11, 2022
Thriller of a game #INDvAUS
— Rishik (@RishikKarangula) December 11, 2022
WHAT A FANTASTIC MATCH!!!! THESE GIRLS ARE SPECIAL!!!! #INDvAUS
— M.H. (@h_malcolm99) December 11, 2022
INDIAN WOMEN. THATS IT. THATS THE TWEET. #INDvAUS
— smrithi🪴 (@smrithay) December 11, 2022
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