In a dominant display at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, the Australian women’s cricket team notched up their 21st consecutive victory on home soil, defeating India by six wickets in the opening ODI of the series on Tuesday.
Chasing a modest target of 215, Australia cruised to victory in just 38.2 overs. Beth Mooney led the charge with a classy 76 off 79 balls, smashing seven boundaries. Captain Alyssa Healy contributed a brisk 50, while Annabel Sutherland remained unbeaten on 48. Phoebe Litchfield added 32 to steady the innings early on. India’s Shree Charani picked up two wickets, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.
Earlier, India struggled to 214 all out in 48.3 overs. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 58, Harmanpreet Kaur made 53, and Kashvee Gautam chipped in with 43. Australia’s Ashley Gardner was the standout bowler, claiming 3-33 to dismantle the Indian batting lineup.
This win marks a historic milestone for the Aussies at Allan Border Field. Their streak began way back on February 7, 1999, with a 100-run thrashing of South Africa. From 2006 to 2011, they whitewashed New Zealand in seven straight games here. Victories over England in 2017, Sri Lanka in 2019, New Zealand in 2020, Pakistan in 2023, and now India in 2024 have cemented their unbreakable fortress.
The series opener showcased Australia’s depth and hunger as they eye another clean sweep. India will need to regroup quickly for the remaining matches to challenge this juggernaut.