Watch- Smriti Mandhana’s Iconic Catch At Forward Short Leg Stuns Australia

Smriti Mandhana celebrating the catch [Source: @7Cricket/x]

Smriti Mandhana stunned Australia Women with a sensational grab at short leg on Day 2 of India’s one-off Test against the hosts at the WACA in Perth. Stationed close to the batter around the halfway stage of the day, Mandhana demonstrated her quick reflexes by holding on to a flying inside edge off number eight batter Tahlia McGrath.

The sensational fielding effort from the vice-captain handed Shafali Verma her first wicket of the match as Australia Women slipped to 277-8 in 75.2 overs.

Smriti Mandhana demonstrates unreal reaction at short leg

Smriti Mandhana pulled off a stunning catch against Australia Women on Day 2 of the one-off Test in Perth on March 7. Standing at short leg during the 76th over of the first Australian innings, the Indian vice-captain held on to an inside edge off Tahlia McGrath by demonstrating her quick reflexes.

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Mandhana’s fielding effort handed Shafali Verma a timely breakthrough as Australia lost its eighth wicket. The breakthrough also ensured that McGrath walked back into the sheds with 13 runs to her name from 32 balls.

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How sharp was that catch?!?! Unreal reactions from Smriti Mandhana #AUSvIND

Mar 7, 2026, 2:42 PM

Australia still on top as Mandhana fails with the bat

In spite of Smriti Mandhana’s fielding excellence, Australia Women still scaled past the 300-run mark around the halfway stage of Day 2. After losing both openers Georgia Voll to Sayali Satghare and Phoebe Litchfield to Kranti Gaud late on Day 1, Ellyse Perry at number three punched out a quick 76 off 116 balls with 10 cracking boundaries and a six.

Legendary captain and outbound cricketer Alyssa Healy managed to list just 13 in her swansong match. All-rounder Annabel Sutherland kept the Australian innings together from faltering in the middle with a majestic century, scoring 129 from 171 balls with 17 fours.

Earlier in the match, India batted first and bundled out for just 198 in 62.4 overs. Jemimah Rodrigues at number four charted the lone half-century of the innings with her 52-run knock from 84 balls. Smriti Mandhana herself fell for just four off 13 balls earlier on the opening day.

Shafali Verma made a quick 35 at the top, but a four-wicket haul from Sutherland and another three from Lucy Hamilton kept Australia Women in control.

At the time of publishing, Australia’s first innings lead had soared past the 100-run mark.

Harmanpreet Kaur and co. pushed to the brink in must-win game

Team India, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, need to defeat Australia Women in the one-off Test in Perth. A win at this stage of the tour will help the ‘Women in Blue’ level up its all-format series against the hosts 8-8.

The Indian team started off the tour by securing a historic 2-1 series win in the T20Is. However, Alyssa Healy-led Australia handed India a 3-0 larruping in the subsequent three-match ODI series.

However, up against a huge first innings deficit, Team India now has its task cut out going ahead in the hard-fought Test.

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