India Women lost to Australia Women by eight wickets in ICC Women’s World Cup, 2017 after posting a modest 226 for seven. Mithali Raj was involved in a 157-run stand with Punam Raut (106 off 136) to build a foundation for a respectable total. However, following the sedate partnership, India lost six wickets in the last ten overs as they looked to accelerate. Meg Lanning (76*) then authoritatively led the Australian chase and took her team to victory with Ellyse Perry (60*).
En route her 114-ball 69, Mithali surpassed Charlotte Edwards (5992) to become the highest run-getter in the history of Women’s ODIs and went on to become the only woman cricketer to reach the 6000-run mark in the format.
After being asked to bat first, Smriti Mandhana edged Ashleigh Gardener to the ‘keeper leaving India on nine for one in the fourth over. Mithali, the walked to the crease ahead of Deepti Sharma as India looked to set Australia a target.
With the Australians bowling a tight line, Raut and Mithali bided their time in the middle in an effort to stitch a partnership. After taking the singles and twos to keep the scoreboard moving, the opener struck Megan Schutt for a couple of boundaries but the hits to the fence were scattered. Kept on their toes by the opposition attack, the batters held their ground stoically and ensured that India didn’t lose wickets. While on 11 Mithali successfully reviewed an lbw appeal to keep her wicket intact.
As they looked to increase the run rate, Raut scoring at a quicker pace than her partner reached her half-century. A bit later, Mithali picked a single off Perry to become the highest run-scorer in Women’s ODIs. In the following over, she dispatched Kristen Beams for a straight six to become the first to complete 6000 runs in Women’s ODIs.
The Raut-Mithali pair trudged on until the skipper departed handing a return catch to Kristen Beams. With the team on 166 for two, Harmanpreet Kaur then joined the opener to add quick runs to the tally in the 41st over. The all-rounder took India past the 200-run mark with a six, but as India looked to accelerate, they suffered a double blow. Raut who had posted her second century, departed hitting Perry to backward square-leg while Veda Krishnamurthy was run out with India on 204 for four.
Harmanpreet was stumped off Schutt in the next over leaving India on 208 for five with 15 balls left in the innings. Jhulan Goswami was bowled by Perry in the penultimate over, and nine runs later Sushma Verma was done in by change of pace from Schutt. Deepti Sharma, who came in to bat at No 9, took India to 226 with a boundary off the last ball.
Defending the modest total, Deepti opened the bowling with Goswami. Although they got off to a cautious start, openers - Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney put together 62 runs until Poonam Yadav drew an edge from the former to the wicketkeeper. Having taken the team past the three-figure mark with Meg Lanning, the other opener was then run out. A direct hit by Deepti from cover region gave India their second breakthrough.
Perry then joined the Southern Stars captain in carrying the innings forward. Batting at a brisk pace the pair brought up the 50-run partnership off just 54 deliveries to tip the balance in Australia’s favour. With the skipper leading the way, the Australians milked the Indian attack to overhaul the target. Lanning and Perry were involved in an unbroken 124-run stand as they took their team to victory with 29 balls to spare and qualified for the semi-final.
Player of the match: Meg Lanning for her unbeaten match-winning knock of 76 off 88 runs
