Key events
Australia wins by five wickets
Megan Maurice
The game appeared fairly evenly poised at the innings break, but Australia’s aggressive batting broke the back of this chase early on and put India on the back foot, a position they weren’t able to recover from. Despite getting the early wicket of Healy, India weren’t able to press that advantage and couldn’t slow the pace of Litchfield and Voll, who put on a huge partnership to ensure that even after they lost their wickets, the job was pretty well done for their team.
India didn’t bat too badly, but they couldn’t continue the momentum they built through a good opening partnership to keep the runs flowing after losing those wickets. Both Pratika and Harmanpreet’s half centuries were achieved at a glacial pace in hindsight when compared to Litchfield and Voll. It will hopefully be a lesson to India on strike rates required to match it with this Australian team at their best.
For Australia, they will have some areas they want to work on in terms of finding wickets early in the innings and there will be some disappointment about those late wickets they lost. However, it was a dominant win for them and they will be very pleased with the result and the batting of their two young stars in Litchfield and Voll.
Australia have secured the ODI portion of the series with that win and have pulled ahead in the multi-format series, so India will be pushing hard to level the series again by getting a win on Sunday – a game which will also be played in Hobart – before the teams move to Perth for the Test next week.
Thanks so much for joining us tonight. We’ll be back on the OBO for the final ODI on Sunday – hope to see you then!
Player of the Match: Georgia Voll
No surprises with this one, Voll made her second ODI century tonight and was superb for Australia. She speaks with so much joy on her face about her partnership with close friend Litchfield.
“We keep things pretty simple to be honest,” she said. “She was smashing them down the other end and I took a little while to get going. Once I started feeling the ball nicely I could expand my game a little bit and similar with her. Obviously we complement each other quite well and we just love batting together.”
37th over: Australia 252-5 (McGrath o, Gardner 19)
Gardner finds a gap in the field on the first ball and drives it past deep extra cover for four to seal an emphatic win for Australia.
36th over: Australia 248-5 (McGrath o, Gardner 15)
Gardner finds a single down the ground to Deepti to start the over, before Sutherland flicks one over the keeper for two. But then Sutherland decides to try to finish the game off there and then and holes out, giving McGrath the chance to be there at the end.
WICKET! Sutherland c Deol b Deepti 10 (Australia 248-5)
Sutherland gets impatient and tries to win the game in one shot and the sub fielder in Deol takes a simple catch.
35th over: Australia 245-4 (Sutherland 8, Gardner 14)
Charani returns to the attack with just 13 runs needed to win for Australia. Sutherland finds the first of those runs fairly easily with a nice cut shot for a single. Both batters are playing with with a relaxed ease, enjoying being out in the middle in a low-pressure situation and getting to play their shots.
34th over: Australia 239-4 (Sutherland 6, Gardner 10)
Deepti resumes after a successful previous over and Gardner straight away takes her feet to the ball and turns it into a full toss to pick up a quick single. The Australians keep the run rate ticking over, playing with very little pressure and plenty of enjoyment. Drinks are on the field now.
33rd over: Australia 234-4 (Sutherland 4, Gardner 7)
Sutherland flicks away a full toss from Amanjot to deep mid wicket for two to show her intent to keep the runs flowing late in the game. Amanjot nearly gets one through Gardner, but then lets her off the hook with another full toss, that Gardner happily pulls for four.
32nd over: Australia 225-4 (Sutherland 1, Gardner 1)
Deepti starts her over with a wide and then there’s an appeal for caught behind on Mooney which isn’t given, but is soon confirmed by the third umpire, which brings Gardner in and means Australia has two new batters in the middle.
WICKET! Mooney c Richa b Deepti 31 (Australia 223-4)
It’s not a very convincing appeal, but they all become more convinced after some discussion and on review it’s clear the ball brushed Mooney’s glove and she has to go.
31st over: Australia 222-3 (Sutherland 0, Mooney 31)
Kashvee returns to the attack with Voll on strike on 99, India hoping they can get her in a vulnerable moment and take a much-needed wicket. The first ball is a dot and Voll holds her nerve. She nearly loses it next ball, edging it to Richa, but the keeper puts it down and Voll dashes down the pitch to bring up her 100 in probably not the way she would have envisioned, but it’s 100 nonetheless! However, soon after she’s out and Sutherland comes to the crease.
WICKET! Voll c Charani b Kashvee 101 (Australia 222-3)
Voll reaches her century, but almost immediately afterwards, gets a top edge that flies straight up in the air and Charani takes a good catch.
30th over: Australia 218-2 (Voll 99, Mooney 29)
With the required runs under 50 now, India is getting more desperate to take a wicket and hopefully spark a batting collapse. But the pressure is right off the Australians and they can knock it around and avoid taking risks, which makes it much more difficult to catch them off guard. Mooney comes down the pitch to change the length of a Kranti delivery and smacks it for a four, before flicking another off her pads past deep backward square for another four and finishing the over with a third consecutive four, this time down the ground.
29th over: Australia 203-2 (Voll 97, Mooney 17)
Voll starts the over with a powerful sweep to Amanjot, but it’s cut off by Deol before the boundary. Amanjot adjusts and bowls a tighter line, keeping the boundaries out of play and bowling well to her field to slightly slow the scoring rate.
28th over: Australia 198-2 (Voll 93, Mooney 16)
Charani returns for just her third over of the night. Some nice running gets Voll two from the first ball and brings up the 50 partnership for these two from 44 deliveries. Although it feels like they’ve been going quite slowly compared to the Litchfield-Voll partnership, they’ve still been going at better than run-a-ball. The fact that it feels slow probably speaks to how fast Litchfield and Voll were going! Voll gets into the 90s with some lovely footwork and a beautiful drive for four.
27th over: Australia 189-2 (Voll 84, Mooney 16)
Amanjot bowls her fourth over now and Voll finds an easy single straight away. Mooney creates some room and drives it past deep extra cover for four. Another little mix up nearly gives India another run out chance, but Mooney again gets back in time.
26th over: Australia 184-2 (Voll 83, Mooney 12)
Vaishnavi returns to see if spin can get a wicket here, but her first ball strays too far down the leg side and Voll again times her pull shot well to get it past the rope for four. Next ball it’s a drive down the ground for a big six and Vaishnavi is looking nervous. Her next few balls are better and there’s a run out shout on the last ball of the over, but Voll has made her ground.
25th over: Australia 171-2 (Voll 71, Mooney 11)
Amanjot comes back into the attack as India look for another wicket to break this partnership before they get into too much of a rhythm. But Voll winds up that big pull shot again and picks up another boundary. Mooney nearly gets herself run out after playing it straight to the field and running, but Voll sends her back and she gets there in time to keep herself out of trouble.
24th over: Australia 165-2 (Voll 66, Mooney 10)
Kranti continues her spell and Mooney finds a nice little drop and run single early in the over. While the boundaries aren’t flowing as they were, both batters are committed to keeping the runs ticking over. And of course, just as I say that, Mooney flicks one off her pads that races down past deep backward square for her first boundary of the night!
23rd over: Australia 158-2 (Voll 65, Mooney 4)
Voll waits nicely on the first ball of Kashvee’s over and cuts it late, but Jemimah is able to cut it off, so she pulls the next one to the other side of the field for a single. The run rate has slowed since Litchfield’s wicket, however the aggressive batting of Litchfield and Voll throughout their partnership pushed Australia so far ahead of the required run rate that they can afford some slower overs.
22nd over: Australia 154-2 (Voll 63, Mooney 2)
A play and miss from Voll to start Kranti’s sixth over of the night, before she finds a single to keep the strike rotating. Mooney runs hard for a single to get the required runs for Australia under 100, with plenty of overs up their sleeves and wickets in the shed.
21st over: Australia 151-2 (Voll 62, Mooney 1)
Kashvee continues and the first ball is a wider delivery that Voll stretches out to latch on to, but she can’t get it through the field. Next ball she finds more space on the other side of the field, getting Mooney on strike with a well-timed pull shot for one. Mooney gets off the mark with a single to get her innings underway. Kashvee bowls a full toss and Voll smashes it straight to Smriti, who drops a very simple catch that then trickles away from her and over the boundary rope. Voll punishes India by hitting the next ball for four as well, bringing up the 150 for Australia.
20th over: Australia 140-2 (Voll 52, Litchfield 0)
Litchfield starts aggressively to Kranti in this over with a big pull shot that looks like it’s certainly going for four, but Smriti pulls out a sensational dive on the boundary to cut it off. There’s another almost chance when the ball slips just in between Voll’s bat and pad and dribbles on to the ground, but it stays put and they dash through for a single. Litchfield tries to up the run rate again, but can’t get it away and is bowled, bringing Mooney to the crease.
WICKET! Litchfield b Kranti 80 (Australia 140-2)
Litchfield attempts one too many innovative shots, in setting up for the paddle she’s clean bowled and has to go for 80.
19th over: Australia 136-1 (Voll 51, Litchfield 77)
India know they need a wicket and soon, and so they bring back their wicket taker in Kashvee to see if she can find one for them. She finds Litchfield’s outside edge, but unfortunately for India, it doesn’t fly to a fielder and instead races down to the boundary for four. Both batters are playing a little more conservatively to Kashvee and paying her a lot of respect, which they can afford to do with the run rate sitting well above what’s required. There’s an appeal for lbw on the last ball of the over and Harmanpreet decides she will review this one, though there’s not a lot of confidence in her review and for good reason – the third umpire quickly sees that Voll got an inside edge.
18th over: Australia 129-1 (Voll 50, Litchfield 71)
Kranti comes back into the attack and Litchfield continues to live dangerously, attempting a lap, but missing and going for a more traditional cut shot shot for a single next ball. Voll picks up a couple of runs with a nicely timed back foot shot into the pockets of the ground. Late in the over, she brings up her 50 with a single and she and Litchfield do a very formal little handshake in contrast to the hug after Litchfield’s 50. Perhaps some kind of superstition? Let’s say it is.
17th over: Australia 124-1 (Voll 47, Litchfield 69)
Amanjot resumes her spell and Voll finds a single right away to keep the strike rotating. There’s a big appeal for lbw on Voll midway through the over, but the umpire isn’t interested and Harmanpreet isn’t convinced enough to review it. Voll then finds the boundary again on the offside and brings up the 100-run partnership. Drinks are on the field now.
16th over: Australia 116-1 (Voll 40, Litchfield 68)
Another over from Deepti now and Litchfield pulls the first ball aggressively, but just for a single. Voll is delighted by the second ball, which is a rank full toss on leg stump, which she helps on its way with a sweep to the boundary. The pressure is on Deepti now and she gives away a wide, before another full toss on leg stump that Voll again sweeps for four. Litchfield finishes the over with a slog sweep for the third boundary of the over to keep the run rate ticking over.
15th over: Australia 101-1 (Voll 31, Litchfield 63)
Amanjot Kaur comes into the attack now after a period of all spin. There’s a mini mix up between the batters on the first ball, with Voll looking for two runs, but Litchfield sending her back after the first. She manages to scramble back to her crease in plenty of time, but pulls out the dive just in case! Voll takes a couple of balls to get her eye in against Amanjot, then punches one straight down the ground for four and then gets one to ricochet off Kranti in the field for another four next ball. Australia brings up the 100 and are cruising here at the moment.
14th over: Australia 92-1 (Voll 23, Litchfield 62)
We get our first look at Deepti for this match and Voll immediately goes after her with a big aerial drive. It flies down to Kranti and she picks it up well, but can’t hold the catch and Voll has got away with one here. Litchfield has picked up a Marizanne Kapp-like habit that I personally can’t stand, which is constantly taking her gloves off. The commentators think it helps her refocus, but as someone with very little patience, I hate having to wait for players to put their gloves back on all the time. Very much hoping this doesn’t filter down to junior cricket!
13th over: Australia 86-1 (Voll 19, Litchfield 60)
Another over from Charani and it’s a good start to the over from her, pinning Litchfield down with a couple of dot balls. Litchfield then finds some runs with another neat little scoop and brings up 2000 international runs – a fantastic achievement from a 22-year-old. Next ball she brings up a more immediate milestone – she reaches her half century with a drive for four. She finishes the over with her first six of the match – which takes some deliberation as it’s hit the rope.
12th over: Australia 72-1 (Voll 19, Litchfield 46)
Vaishnavi resumes and Voll is still finding her a little uncomfortable. She rotates the strike early to give Litchfield a shot – Vaishnavi seems to prefer bowling to right handers. After two more singles from the next two balls, Litchfield and Voll bring up their 50 partnership. There’s an lbw shout late in the over, but it’s a very optimistic one from the young bowler, without much support from her teammates.
11th over: Australia 68-1 (Voll 17, Litchfield 44)
The fielding restrictions are completed now and Sree Charani comes into the attack, with Australia sitting nicely above the required run rate. Voll pulls out another scoop early in the over and nearly scoops it straight to the keeper, but manages to keep it out of her grasp. A couple of balls later, she decides to try a more traditional route to find the boundary, with a straight drive back past the bowler for four. Litchfield finishes the over by playing her own scoop, which is a deft little one that finds enough space for her to pick up two runs.
10th over: Australia 60-1 (Voll 12, Litchfield 41)
Litchfield continues to live dangerously, dancing down the wicket and slashing one through the field for four, then chipping another one over the top for two. She’s putting plenty of shots up in the air, but has found the gaps well enough so far. Voll completes the over (and the power play) with lovely drive past long on for a boundary of her own.
9th over: Australia 49-1 (Voll 8, Litchfield 34)
Voll gets into position as Kashvee releases the ball and scoops the first ball of the over past fine leg for four, putting pressure back on to the bowler immediately. It’s a good fight back from Kashvee though, tightening up her line to ensure Voll can’t do anything but the defend the next few balls. In fact, she avoids giving away any further runs from the over.
8th over: Australia 45-1 (Voll 4, Litchfield 34)
Vaishnavi comes into the attack on debut and starts with two dots to Litchfield, which will give her some confidence. However, no one can keep Litchfield quiet for long and she pulls out the reverse sweep, which sails down to the boundary for four.
7th over: Australia 39-1 (Voll 3, Litchfield 29)
Voll gets some strike now after the Litchfield show last over. Unfortunately for her, it’s against Kashvee, who’s looking the more dangerous of the Indian opening bowlers at the moment. She finds a single through a flick to deep backward square early in the over to keep things moving and Litchfield is also content with a single to this very good line and length. Just the two runs from another tight Kashvee over.
6th over: Australia 37-1 (Voll 2, Litchfield 28)
A very full ball from Kranti to start the over, generally you’d say a delivery like that was too full, but it catches Litchfield off guard and nearly gets through her, but she defends it back to the bowler. Midway through the over, she finds the ball she’s looking for and pulls it strongly to the boundary for four, before following it up with another in almost the same spot. That’s followed by yet another pull shot for four – Kranti needs to adjust her length and she does so, finishing the over with a dot.
5th over: Australia 25-1 (Voll 2, Litchfield 16)
Australia is sitting right on the required run rate at the moment and there is a sense from India that they need to start taking wickets soon, so they do that nice and early in the over, dismissing Healy for single figures, bringing Voll to the crease. Like the openers beforehand, she starts with a strong, Test-match style defensive shot and then dashes through for a quick single to make sure she doesn’t come away with another duck. They continue rotating the strike throughout the over to keep the run rate moving along after the loss of that early wicket.
WICKET! Healy b Kashvee 6 (Australia 20-1)
A perfect yorker from Kashvee catches Healy’s back foot and deflects on to the stumps. A disappointing way to go for the captain, but a great ball from Kashvee – her first ODI wicket.
4th over: Australia 20-0 (Healy 6, Litchfield 14)
Healy gets her first look at the strike since the first over and starts by punching one over midwicket – but not very far over! It just evades a diving Jemimah to run away for four. She scales back her risk-taking endeavours after that, with three dot balls in a row before a nice pull shot finds the gap and she gets Litchfield back on strike for a harmless defensive shot to end the over.
3rd over: Australia 15-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 14)
Kashvee resumes her spell after a tight first over. Litchfield gets her feet to the ball and chips another one over the top for her second four of the innings – she’s starting to find her rhythm now, though she’s certainly taking some risks. Her next boundary is far less risky, just flicked off her pads past fine leg for four. With a total like this, if she can find two boundaries an over, it takes a lot of the pressure out of the chase early.
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 6)
Kranti Gaud opens the bowling from the other end and starts with good line and length to Litchfield, who is playing her shots, but can’t pierce the inner ring with the field up for the power play. Eventually she goes aerial with a drive that she chips over the top of the field, where it falls safely and runs away for four.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 1)
Kashvee opens the bowling for India and Healy starts defensively, getting her elbow up high and playing a forward defensive to the first two balls of the innings. The third ball drifts a little further on to the leg side and Healy whips it off her pads for a comfortable single. Litchfield also takes her time getting her eye in, with a defensive shot and a little working of the ball for a single.
The teams are on the field and the chase is about to get underway!
Don’t forget you can get in touch with me via email – the link is at the top of the page. One thing I’m interested to hear from you about is captain-in-waiting Sophie Molineux. A major concern that many raised when she was named the new captain was her history of injuries. With an injury ruling her out of the remainder of this series so soon after this news, is this worrying for the team and the selectors? It did seem to be a left field choice, so it would be interesting to know whether injury breaks were factored into the decision.
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Megan Maurice
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all having an enjoyable evening / (insert whichever period of the day it is where you are). That was a great first innings to watch, with both teams having periods of dominance. It feels like Australia have their noses in front at the moment with such a strong batting line up to chase this total down, but if India can bring the bowling performances they brought to the T20s, they’re very capable of defending this total. I can’t wait to see how the chase goes!
Martin Pegan
Thanks a lot for following along through the first half of the second ODI in Hobart. The multi-format series is tied at 4-4 and India have put together a total that leaves this game just as evenly poised.
Megan Maurice is here to guide you through Australia’s chase – enjoy!
India set Australia 252-run target
Australia reel in India after the tourists made a fine start when Pratika Rawal (52) and Smriti Mandhana (31) combined for a 78-run opening stand. The wheels fell off in the middle overs as India lost three key batters for only five runs and left captain Harmanpreet Kaur (54) needing to play a steady hand to rebuild the innings. Spin twins Ash Gardner (2 for 39) and Alana King (2 for 41) were key to Australia turning the game in their favour, while Risha Ghosh (22) lit some fireworks to help lift India to a competitive total of 251-9.
50th over: India 251-9 (Vaishnavi 10, Charani 0)
WICKET! Kranti c Mooney b Sutherland 19 (India 241-9)
Kranti Gaud is the next to go after edging a moving ball behind to the keeper. Mooney has to get down low to glove the ball but after several replays the India batter is sent on her way.
WICKET! Harmanpreet c Litchfield b Schutt 54 (India 241-8)
The India skipper is gone after a fine, well-paced innings. After searching for gaps on the leg-side throughout the over, Harmanpreet tries to redirect a delivery aimed toward her body back over the off-side infield but spoons the ball to Litchfield at cover.
49th over: India 241-8 (Kranti 19, Charani 0)
48th over: India 236-7 (Harmanpreet 51, Kranti 17) Harmanpreet brings up a typical fighting and well-paced fifty with a single pulled to deep backward square. The India skipper’s half-century comes from 66 balls after she took time to get going while focusing on rebuilding the innings. Five singles from the over won’t hurt Australia too much.
47th over: India 231-7 (Harmanpreet 49, Kranti 14) That’s just the over India needed as Nicola Carey loses her line. Kranti picks up three boundaries with the first fortunate to find a gap through the air and to the long-on rope. The next two are pure class as Kranti casually lofts a pair of drives over mid-off and can barely hide her surprise with a huge grin across her face.