India’s Unbeaten Run Halted As Vintage Australia Level T20I Series in Canberra

Australia beat India by 19 runs. [Source - AFP Photos]

India Women were outplayed by Australia Women in the second T20I, losing by 19 runs at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Thursday, February 19. The three-match series is now leveled 1-1, with the final T20I in Adelaide set to be the decider.

Here’s a look at the complete highlights of the second T20I of the three-match series between India Women and Australia Women as the action unfolded in Canberra.

Georgia Voll’s Explosive Start Powered Australia Early

Australia Women got off to a flying start after being asked to bat first, with Georgia Voll leading the charge. Timing the ball beautifully, she attacked from the outset while Beth Mooney provided steady support, putting Australia in a commanding position early on.

Australia reached 48 for no loss during the Powerplay. Voll maintained her aggressive approach, reaching a half-century in just 31 balls, while Mooney played cautiously but kept the partnership intact. By the halfway mark, the duo had propelled Australia to 86 without loss, building a strong foundation for a formidable total.

India’s Death Bowling Halts Australia After Voll’s Early Heroics

India struggled to break the opening partnership for over four overs as Mooney and Voll dominated. The pair stretched Australia to 128 without loss, with Mooney taking charge of the scoring after the halfway mark. The breakthrough finally came when India managed to dismiss Mooney, ending the strong opening stand.

Voll tried to maintain the scoring momentum at the other end but fell to Arundhati Reddy, triggering a dramatic collapse. Australia went from 128 for no loss to 163 for 5. Only 34 runs came in the final five overs, as India tightened the screws with precision and composure in their death bowling.

India’s execution in the final overs was superb. Reddy’s yorkers, after an expensive start, finished perfectly, while Renuka Thakur and Shree Charani bowled to plans with discipline. Their measured approach ensured Australia could not accelerate, leaving the visitors with what appeared to be a below-par total of 163, putting India in a strong position.

Also Read: Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes Most Capped International Player In Women's Cricket

India Fell Short as Australia Dominated with the Ball

Chasing 164, India got off to a solid start as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma got themselves off to a flyer, adding 54 runs in the Powerplay. Australia struck back immediately after the powerplay as captain Sophie Molineux removed Verma before she could do any further damage, breaking the opening stand.

Ashleigh Gardner then struck in her second over, sending Jemimah Rodrigues back cheaply for 4. Mandhana soon followed, nicking one to Beth Mooney off Kim Garth’s bowling, reducing India to 71 for 3 at the halfway mark as Australia complelty turned the game around in the span of four overs.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh added 55 for the fourth wicket to keep India in the hunt, but Australia controlled the scoring rate, never letting them dominate. Both batters fell in the slog overs, leaving the lower order to chase a difficult target. Eventually India fell 19 runs short giving as Australia bounced back well after a difficult loss in Sydney.

Also Read: The Uncapped Legend: The Journey Of Paras Dogra Will Be Written In The Stars