IND W vs AUS W | Twitter reacts as Australia seal ODI series despite Richa Ghosh heroics

12/30/2023

After a loss in the one-off Test, Australia managed to exact their revenge by sealing the ODI, with a game to play, at the Wankhede by three runs. Chasing a target of 259, Richa Ghosh (96) tried her best to keep India in the hunt but the Aussies managed to defend 40 off 36 balls to win the game.

‌Heading into the second ODI with a win under their belt, Australian captain, Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bat first on a sunny afternoon. The innings kicked off with a dropped catch on the second ball which was followed by many as the play progressed. Pooja Vastrakar cleaned up the opposition skipper in the first ball of the ninth over but Ellyse Perry joined Phoebe Litchfield in the middle to build a 77-run second wicket stand. The middle overs phase saw the Indian bowlers run through the Aussie backbone, initiating with the breakthrough of Perry (50) in the 24th over. After Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield (63) followed suit, Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham and Alana King contributed in 20s to help the scoreboard reach 258 runs while Deepti Sharma was the peak of the Indian bowlers with a fifer.

In pursuit of the chase, the Indian openers - Yastika Bhatia and Smriti Mandhana jolted a brisk 37-run stand for the first wicket before the former was trapped in front off Kim Garth. Subsequently, a struggling Richa Ghosh got well set but lost on-song Mandhana (34) in 16th over. Jemimah Rodrigues entered the fray and glued an 88-run third wicket stand, setting the path for a chase. Although Ghosh struggled with cramps, she ensured that the scoreboard kept sprinting despite losing Harmanpreet Kaur. The scoreboard read 218/5 when the wicketkeeper-batter fell short of her maiden ODI ton by just four runs. The final powerplay transpired into an evenly poised contest when the hosts kept losing wickets from one end with Deepti Sharma holding the other end. The equation curtailed down to 19 needed off the final couple of overs and the experienced Ashleigh Gardner removed concussion substitute Harleen Deol on the final ball after conceding just 3 runs. Eventually, India fell short by three runs as Deepti and Shreyanka Patil managed to pull just 12 runs, handing an early series victory to the mighty Aussies.

Sweep she dreamt about!

pic.twitter.com/JReG1avTIt
— Virat Sharma (@ViratSharm39743) December 30, 2023

That's big loss!

India lost the 2nd ODI by just 3 runs against Australia.

- Feel for Richa Ghosh, played one of the iconic innings with 96 runs but lost the match. pic.twitter.com/i6Nl8gyAzh
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 30, 2023

Didn't expect this!

India lost because Deepti didn't get out. A very well deserved loss. Australia played as if it was their home ground. With such tactics and mindset, this India team will never win and they should never win. #INDvAUS
— Izu (@outof22yards) December 30, 2023

Comeback stronger India please!

There was only one time who could have lost from such a winning position- INDIA and they are doing it proudly....what a shit our cricket has become - Men or Women
— Vineet Manotra (@vineetmanotra) December 30, 2023

Series win it is!

@mohsinaliisb Australia women won by 3runs,,,,,,Mazrat hi hai 🙏 our indian women team 💔
— Keshav rana (@Keshavr53247076) December 30, 2023

It was so close!

Another NEARLY WON IT for the Indian team

Australia just doing Australia things - they just know what to do under pressure. EVERY SINGLE GODDAMN TIME.
— Prasanna Balakrishnan (@PrasannaBalakr2) December 30, 2023

Yes! Gotta accept it!