News by “Sana Ullah“
In the ongoing second women’s one-day international at Wankhede Stadium, Australia chose to bat first and posted a formidable total of 258 for 8 against India. Phoebe Litchfield, with a notable 63, and Ellyse Perry, contributing an even 50, played pivotal roles in guiding Australia’s innings.
Australia’s late-innings surge, fueled by Alana King’s cameo, countered Deepti Sharma’s impactful five-wicket haul for India. Despite the setback, Australia managed to reach 8-258, showcasing resilience after Deepti dismantled the middle and lower order, reducing them from 1-117 to 8-219. King’s stellar performance, including three sixes in her career-best 28 not out, along with Kim Garth’s contribution, added a quickfire, unbroken 39 for the ninth wicket.
However, India’s fielding woes, marked by seven dropped catches, proved costly. The missteps began early, with Amanjot Kaur missing a chance to dismiss Litchfield on only the second ball of the match. Even after the removal of Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy, Litchfield continued her innings, benefitting from another dropped catch on 16 by Yastika Bhatia at first slip. The partnership between Litchfield and Perry, reminiscent of their match-winning collaboration in the previous encounter, added 77 runs for the second wicket, characterized by Litchfield’s cautious approach and Perry’s counterattacking flair.
