HOBART – India’s women’s cricket team suffered a heartbreaking 5-wicket defeat to Australia in the second ODI, handing the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t mince words post-match, pointing squarely at the batting unit’s underwhelming performance as the key reason for the loss.
Having won the toss and opting to bat first, India had high hopes of posting a mammoth total exceeding 300 on a pitch that appeared batsman-friendly compared to the previous game. But those ambitions crumbled as wickets tumbled at regular intervals, leaving the scoreboard reading a modest 251 for 9 in 50 overs.
Harmanpreet, who notched up her second consecutive half-century with a gritty 54 off 70 balls, expressed frustration over the repeated mistakes. ‘We thought we could get over 300 today because the pitch was better,’ she said. ‘But we repeated the same errors, losing wickets in clusters, and couldn’t build a competitive total.’
Pratika Rawal showed promise with a solid 52 off 81 balls, while Smriti Mandhana contributed 31 and Kashvi Gautam added 25. However, the middle order failed to fire, putting pressure on the lower batsmen.
Australia’s bowlers, led by Annabel Sutherland’s 2-37 from 7 overs and Alana King’s 2-41, kept things tight. Chasing 252, the hosts cruised home in just 36.1 overs, powered by Georgia Voll’s magnificent 101 and Phoebe Litchfield’s explosive 80 off 62 balls. Their 119-run second-wicket stand set the tone, with Beth Mooney (31) and Ashley Gardner (19*) finishing off comfortably.
With the series already lost, Harmanpreet urged her batters to step up in the dead rubber on March 1. ‘To win matches, we need better batting,’ she emphasized. ‘The last two games have exposed our weaknesses, but I expect more responsibility in the final outing.’
India’s tour Down Under has turned challenging, highlighting the need for consistency against a formidable Australian side eyeing a clean sweep.