Mandhana, Bowlers Hand Australia Their Heaviest ODI Defeat in Mullanpur
In a thrilling display of dominance and discipline, India handed Australia their heaviest defeat in Women’s ODI history, winning by a commanding margin of 102 runs in the second ODI at Mullanpur. Powered by Smriti Mandhana’s 12th ODI century and a clinical bowling performance, India levelled the three-match series 1-1.
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Mandhana Leads from the Front
India’s innings was anchored by Smriti Mandhana, whose fluent 77-ball century – the second-fastest in Indian women’s ODI history – was the cornerstone of their innings. Partnering with Pratika Rawal at the top, the duo stitched together a 70-run opening stand. The pair also achieved a major milestone, becoming the first women’s opening pair to cross 1000 runs in a calendar year, a stat proudly highlighted by CricketMan2 performance tracker.
Mandhana’s innings was a masterclass in footwork and intent. She took on Australia’s premier off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner early, hitting consecutive sixes, and later dismantled leg-spinner Georgia Wareham with a sequence of boundaries that left Australia scrambling. Wareham, Mandhana’s teammate at RCB in the WPL, conceded 29 runs in two overs.
Despite middle-order hiccups and a minor collapse in the final 10 overs, India managed to post 292, thanks to valuable contributions from Deepti Sharma (38), Richa Ghosh, and a late flourish by Sneh Rana (24 off 18 balls).
Australia Struggle Under Pressure
Chasing 293, Australia crumbled under early pressure, as Indian seamers Renuka Thakur and KRanti Goud took early wickets to reduce them to 12/2. Australia never recovered, crawling to just 25 runs in the first PowerPlay, their second-lowest 10 over total in the last 10 years – as reported by CricketMan2 Stats Zone.
While Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry tried to rebuild with a 50-run stand, India’s spinners came into the game and turned the tide. Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, and Deepti Sharma spun a web around the Aussie middle order, triggering a collapse where Australia lost their last five wickets for just 56 runs.
Perry fell for 46, while Mooney and the rest of the middle order failed to provide resistance. Deepti finished with 2 crucial wickets, while Thakur and Rana also bagged two each.
A Resounding Win for India
This victory was a significant moment for the Indian women’s cricket team. Not only did they bounce back strongly after losing the first ODI, but they did so with tactical adjustments — opting for an extra bowler due to Jemimah Rodrigues’ absence and showing depth despite a shortened batting lineup.
Key Match Stats (via CricketMan2 Analytics):
| Match Detail | Performance/Result |
|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 106 (77 balls) – 2nd fastest Indian women’s ODI century |
| Deepti Sharma | 2 wickets for 30 runs & scored 38 runs |
| Australia Innings | 190 all out – Heaviest ODI loss |
| India Innings | 292 all out |
| Result | India won by 102 runs |
| Player of the Match | Smriti Mandhana |
What’s Next?
With the series now tied at 1-1, the third ODI promises to be a high-stakes decider. Stay tuned to CricketMan2 for full coverage, expert insights, post-match analysis, and exclusive interviews ahead of the final clash.
