Record Mandhana ton in vain as India fall 43 runs short of 412

Australia won the three-match ODI series 2-1 after beating India by 43 runs in a high-scoring affair at Delhi. On a flat surface, Australia batted first and posted a mammoth 412 on the back of a 57-ball century from Beth Mooney and brisk fifties from Georgia Voll and Ellyse Perry. In pursuit, India made a promising start with Smriti Mandhana going on to score a record 50-ball century, but lost steam following quick dismissals of their top-order batters.

Opting to bat first, Australia were quick to capitalize on a pitch that aided strokeplay. Alyssa Healy was also the beneficiary of some wayward bowling from India early doors. She got underway with a couple of boundaries in the first over before continuing to pick boundaries off as India either strayed on the pads or offered too much width. She raced along to 30 off just 18 balls before chipping one to mid-off in the fifth over. The hemorrhaging, however, did not stop for India as Voll and Ellyse Perry sustained the assault to take Australia to 77/1 at the end of the PowerPlay.

Australia marched on steadily and continued to score at over 7 runs an over. Voll got a reprieve after being dropped by Harmanpreet Kaur in the 11th over and promptly raised her maiden ODI fifty, off just 43 balls, two overs later. The partnership blossomed past 100, and India's breakthrough wouldn't come until the 22nd over when Voll was out caught at short fine-leg trying to sweep Sneh Rana. The wicket, however, did little to slow Australia down. Conversely, Australia's progress hastened after Beth Mooney's arrival at the crease.

Another century partnership ensued as both Perry and Mooney continued to attack, with both raising fifties in the space of three overs. Their 106-run stand ended when Perry holed out to long-on in the 33rd over. Mooney, though, continued to race along as India failed to stem the flow of boundaries. She notched up a 57-ball hundred - briefly becoming the joint second-fastest in WODIs, only behind Meg Lanning's 45-ball effort against New Zealand in 2012 before Mandhana upstaged her effort. Ashleigh Gardner too, who started relatively slowly, got going as India's indiscipline extended to their fielding. Things looked ominous for India as Australia were placed at 334/3 after 40 overs.

While Australia continued to soar with regular boundaries, India managed to hit back with wickets in the final 10 overs and it started with Gardner's dismissal in the 41st over. The 45th over saw three dismissals, including that of Beth Mooney who was run-out for 138. In their quest to maintain the assault, Australia ended up getting bowled out in the 48th over but not before they had piled on 412 runs - equalling their highest score in the format.

India's reply started with tremendous promise and was further fuelled by hope as it progressed. Smriti Mandhana, in particular, appeared to be in fabulous touch as she struck Megan Schutt for three consecutive boundaries in the third over. While Pratika Rawal was dismissed early, offering a catch to gully, India continued to advance at a breakneck pace. India's fifty came in the fifth over as they smacked 20 off Gardner's over. Mandhana's own fifty came two overs later and off just 23 deliveries. Amidst the carnage, however, a struggling Harleen Deol was dismissed in the 9th over. Mandhana then got a reprieve in the very next over after Kim Garth put down a difficult chance running back from mid-off.

Harmanpreet Kaur was quick to get going and runs started to flow from both ends for India. They finished the PowerPlay on 96/2 and did not lift their foot off the pedal even once the fielding restrictions eased. Mandhana raised her century off just 50 balls in the 17th over - the fastest by any Indian in ODIs, eclipsing Virat Kohli's long-standing record of 52 balls - and did so in style with a six off Alana King. Consequently, India didn't just keep up with the asking rate but they surpassed it.

However, India's burgeoning hopes of accomplishing a record chase were quickly dashed after Harmanpreet, who had just brought up fifty off 32 balls, and Mandhana, fell in successive overs. As India attempted to rebuild without letting the run-rate drop, they were burned further after Richa Ghosh was run-out cheaply soon after. Having lost half their side, India had no option but to exercise more caution. While Deepti Sharma battled on, keeping India in the game, their situation only worsened when Radha Yadav and Arundhati Reddy both fell without making significant contributions.

Deepti and Sneh Rana weren't quite ready to throw in the towel, though. The duo shared a 65-run stand, and Deepti raised a well-compiled fifty, ensuring India still had an outside chance needing 74 heading into the final 10 overs. Those hopes, too, however, crumbled after Deepti holed out in the 43rd over before India were bundled out for a respectable yet insufficient 369 in the 47th over.