Half-centuries by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Pratika Rawal propelled India to a total of 251/9 in their 50 overs against Australia in the second ODI of the women’s multi-format series at the Bellerive Oval. Harmanpreet scored 54 off 70 balls, while Pratika contributed 52 off 81 deliveries. Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, Alana Kings, and Ashleigh Gardner took two wickets each, maintaining a tight grip on India’s scoring rate.
India’s innings saw a mix of promise and frustration as Pratika and Smriti Mandhana built a strong foundation with a 78-run partnership in the initial 16 overs before the middle order stumbled. A late surge of 73 runs in the final 10 overs, led by Harmanpreet and debutant Vaishnavi Sharma, helped India surpass the 250-run mark.
Opting to bat first, Pratika and Smriti showcased aggressive stroke play in the early overs. Despite a boundary drought in the last five overs of the power-play, India managed to achieve a rare feat – Australia failing to take a wicket in the mandatory powerplay for the fifth time in their last seven encounters.
The match witnessed Smriti’s struggles at the crease, surviving three dropped catches before being dismissed for 31. Pratika, on the other hand, crafted a composed half-century off 76 balls but was run out due to a mix-up with Harmanpreet. This incident marked a turning point as Australia fought back, picking up crucial wickets to put pressure on India’s batting lineup.
