Indian women thrash Australia in 2nd T20I to clinch series

Melbourne, 29 January। The Indian women's cricket team created history by defeating Australia by 10 wickets in the second T20 to secure their first bilateral series victory in any format over the hosts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Friday.

Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami (2-16) and left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2-27) starred with the ball as the Australians posted 125/8 from 18 overs in a rain-affected contest. Harmanpreet Kaur (1-2) and Poonam Yadav (1-17) also bagged a wicket each.

Australian captain Meg Lanning was the highest scorer with 49 while Jess Jonassen also batted well.

India lead the three-match series 2-0. They had beaten Australia by five wickets in the first match in Adelaide on January 26. The third T20 will be played in Sydney on January 31. 

The hosts started their innings on the wrong foot when Jhulan bowled Grace Harris in the first over. Jhulan claimed her second wicket when Anuja Patil pulled off a brilliant catch to send back the other opener Beth Mooney.

Patil produced another pice of fine fielder when she found the stumps with direct throw from short mid-on to run out Ellyse Perry. That saw Australia reduced to 33/3 and the hosts never recovered from there.

India made a fine start through Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana. The visitors were on 52/0 in the eighth over when rain arrived in the eighth over of the chase they were ahead of the D/L target on 0 for 52.

After the rain eventually stopped, only a further 2.1 overs could be played with India needing 14 runs according to the re-adjusted Duckworth/Lewis score. The Indians claimed victory with five balls to spare. Mithali remained unbeaten on 37 from 32 balls with six boundaries. Mandhana was not out on 22, with three boundaries studding her 24-ball knock.

Agency