8 months ago
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Two stunning innings, on either side of the interval on a mad Saturday (September 20, 2025), provided the best advertisement for the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup.
Beth Mooney’s 75-ball 138 (23x4, 1x6) had virtually sealed a series-clinching victory for Australia against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Australia had made 412, 110 runs more than the target set in the highest successful chase in women’s ODIs. The Indians fell short by 43 runs
But, for the first 20 overs of the Indian innings, the impossible looked possible. Smriti Mandhana batted as if she was in a dream. She had made 58 and 117 in the last two matches and had looked lovely while making those runs.
On this night, she was lovelier.
Australia’s Beth Mooney celebrates her century during the third ODI cricket match against Indian women in New Delhi on September 20, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI
The left-handed stylist charmed the crowd with a breathtaking display of shots. She found her touch straightaway, and her bat soon began to look more like a magical wand, as she came up with one gorgeous shot one after the other.
The Australians were dazed.
At the end of the 20 overs, the host was 204 for two. With skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (52, 35b, 8x4) finally finding her form, the Indians, appearing in pink for the first time, were threatening to make history in more ways than one.
Smriti’s hundred came off 50 balls. Only former Australian captain Meg Lanning has made a faster century in women’s ODIs — off 45 balls.
Harmanpreet was trapped in front by Kim Garth, bringing to end the 121-run stand for the third wicket. In the very next over, the vice-captain followed the captain to the dressing room: Smriti, trying to pull a full toss, was caught at deep square-leg off Grace Harris.
After the setbacks, Deepti Sharma (72, 58b, 5x4, 2x6) waged a brave battle, but the target was too daunting.
In the afternoon, Mooney played the star role in Australia’s spectacular batting show. And she was a woman in a hurry. She had come into this match with a strike-rate of nearly 86, but in this innings she struck at 184.
After captain Alyssa Healy (30, 18b, 7x4) fell to Kranti Goud for the third time in the series, fellow-opener Georgia Voll (81, 68b, 14x4), Ellyse Perry (68, 72b, 7x4, 2x6) and Gardner (39, 24b, 5x4, 1x6) all went after the Indian bowlers, who had called the shots in the second ODI at New Chandigarh.
So the Aussies have maintained their unbeaten record in bilateral series against India, dating back to 1984.
