Australia extend unbeaten World Cup run with victory over India

Led by Alyssa Healy's century and Annabel Sutherland's fifer, Australia handed India their second consecutive defeat of the ongoing World Cup, overhauling the 331-run target with three wickets in hand and an over to spare.

Even though it was a high-scoring contest, it was characterized by boundaries and quick runs through the early and the middle phases, which fizzled out in the death overs. For India, it was the flurry of wickets which sucked the momentum out of their innings, for Australia - who were left needing 73 runs off the last 12 overs, it was a watchful march towards the target. Ellyse Perry, who had retired hurt midway through her innings, returned to bat at the start of the 45th over and saw her side over the line in the company of the lower order.

Australia had made watchful start in the chase, with the openers managing only 16 runs off the first four overs. Thereafter, the out of form Healy cut loose against Amanjot Kaur, cracking a couple of boundaries to get a move on. That tempo didn't slow down for a while, especially in the ninth over, when Kranti Goud was taken apart for 19 runs, followed by Amanjot Kaur getting hit for four boundaries a couple of overs later.

It was Shree Charani's introduction into the attack in the 12th over which broke Australia's momentum. Phoebe Litchfield departed reverse sweeping the left-arm spinner to backward point. Even as she managed to keep a lid of Australia's scoring, Healy and Perry kept finding boundaries from the other end.

Australia's scoring rate did dip a bit against the spin duo of Charani and Deepti Sharma, but moreover, they kept losing wickets at regular interval. Perry walked off due to cramps, and Mooney was sent back for 2 courtesy a fine diving catch by Jemimah Rodrigues. Soon after, Sutherland was cleaned up by Charani as Australia were reduced to 170 for 3 at the start of the 28th over - with Perry's availability uncertain.

Nonetheless, Gardner offered steady support to Healy, who went on an overdrive after notching up her century. She lofted Sneh Rana for a boundary through extra cover and followed it up by slog-sweeping the spinner for a six. She continued to be severe against the spinner as the duo added 95 runs, which formed the spine of Australia's chase.

India did claw back by dismissing Healy and Tahlia McGrath in quick succession. But with the required rate not under threat, Australia could tread cautiously towards the target. Gardner and Sophie Molineux provided that stability, but both fell before assuring a victory to Australia, who were scoring around run-a-ball through that period. With six runs needed off the last seven balls, Perry deposited a six down the ground to take her side over the line.

Earlier in the day, put in to bat, India had made a watchful start, especially with Smriti Mandhana struggling to find her groove early on. However, with Australia's plans evident to attack Pratika Rawal, she was able to use her flicks to good effect, placing two of them for boundaries in the fourth over against Megan Schutt to help India build momentum.

Mandhana, on the other hand, found her momentum in the eighth over, when she took down Molineux for two boundaries and a six. While the left-arm spinner's early struggles were understandable, Mandhana didn't hold back against anyone. With Rawal giving the charge against Gardner in the next over, India's innings picked pace.

Some deft touches, some precise placement and some short deliveries put away, Mandhana took on Gardner too. Kim Garth was meted out a similar treatment when she returned to her second spell. Australia realised the impact of slower balls, and used it excessively to control India's assault. Mandhana then pulled a length delivery by Garth for a six to become the youngest and fastest to 5000 ODI runs in women's cricket.

Australia, nonetheless, persisted with the ploy of bringing the ball back into Rawal, one of which induced a leading edge which was put down by Alana King at mid wicket when Rawal was batting on 41.

Australia struggled to find answers to Mandhana's onslaught as the scoring rate kept picking up with the flourishing of the partnership before the southpaw holed out to the long on fielder, in the 25th over, while looking to put away Molineux for another six in her second spell.

Mandhana's dismissal also allowed Healy to finally hand over the ball to King, who managed to get a fair amount of drift and turn. However, the Indian batters continued to keep the attack going through the middle overs. Initially, it was Rawal and Harleen Deol who added 37 runs in 34 balls, before the opener pulled Annabel Sutherland straight to Ellyse Perry at fine leg.

All the batters through the middle order - Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur - made handy contributions, and at a brisk pace. While Harmanpreet and Ghosh largely relied on muscling the ball, Jemimah was crafty with her shot selection and active to put the fielders under pressure and pinch the extra runs on the field.

But none of them could stay long enough to provide the late surge. Nonetheless, their combined contribution of 103 runs in 72 balls proved pivotal for India to breach the 300-run mark - a total exceeded only once against Australia in ODIs. The hosts were also aided by a flurry of extras from the Australians, including 13 wides and a penalty of five runs after Healy failed to collect a ball, which rolled and hit her helmet positioned behind her. It was just one of a few mistakes by Healy behind the wicket.

Even as Garth wasn't available after leaving the field five balls into her seventh over, Australia were impressive in the death. Sutherland's back-of-the-hand slower balls, coupled with offcutters, were especially impactful as she not only picked five wickets, but also conceded only 40 runs from her spell as India lost their last five wickets for only 36 runs in as many deliveries. Moreover, they were bundled out with seven balls still left.

Brief Scores: India 330 in 48.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 80, Pratika Rawal 72; Annabel Sutherland 5-40, Sophie Molineux 3-75) lost to Australia 331/7 in 49 overs (Alyssa Healy 142, Ellyse Perry 47; Shree Charani 3-41, Deepti Sharma 2-52) by 3 wickets