Mullanpur, Sep 17 (PTI) India Women’s A suffered a late batting collapse to succumb to a seven-run defeat as visiting Australia Women’s A claimed the three-match unofficial T20I series 3-0 here on Thursday.
Vrinda Dinesh led the reply for India with a well-made 69 at the top, but India stuttered from 127 for three at one stage to 160 all-out in the final over in pursuit of 169, suffering a third consecutive defeat against the visitors.
The two teams will now move to Mohali for a three-match unofficial ODI series before moving to Dharamsala for a one-off unofficial Test.
It was India’s best effort with the bat in three matches yet the team failed to get over the line as Australia Women’s A stamped their authority with an all-round performance.
Earlier, a 100-run stand and half-centuries from Courtney Webb (52) and Anika Learoyd (61) had powered Australia to another formidable total of 168 for five after they elected to bat.
Sayali Satghare (2/25) and Vaishnavi Sharma (2/32) provided the wickets for India but the home team’s bowlers were not able to contain the Australian batters, with Webb and Learoyd doing a fine rebuilding job for their side after they stumbled to 42/2.
Webb scored 52 off 42 balls with five fours and a six, whereas Learoyd struck five fours and three sixes to make 61 off 42 balls.
In reply, India were off to a confident start with openers Vrinda and Tejal Hasabnis putting on 84 runs for the first wicket.
Taking the attack to the Australian bowlers, both Vrinda and Hasabnis found boundaries at regular intervals to keep the hosts in control of the proceedings. Vrinda struck five sixes and as many fours to make 69 off 41 balls, while Hasabnis scored 42 off 24 balls with three fours and three sixes.
However, the momentum shifted once the opening pair was separated with Hasabnis falling to Sianna Ginger in the ninth over and India slipped thereon.
Skipper Anushka Sharma (11) once again failed to make her mark as India lost wickets in a heap to be bowled out with one ball to spare.
Niki Prasad, who struck a valiant half-century in the last match, fell for a second-ball duck while Minnu Mani (3) also did not trouble the scorers.
Shweta Sehrawat (9), Tanuja Kanwar (3) and Uma Chetry (2) fell in quick succession which shut the doors on India Women’s A, even as they remained within touching distance of the target.
For Australia, Frankie Nicklin returned 1/21 from her four overs but Tayla Vlaeminck (3-0-24-3) and Lilly Mills (4-1-40-3) inflicted the majority of the damage.
Brief scores: Australia Women’s A 168/5 in 20 overs (Courtney Webb 52, Anika Learoyd 61; Sayali Satghare 2/25) beat India Women’s A 160 in 19.5 overs (Vrinda Dinesh 69, Tejal Hasabnis 42; Tayla Vlaeminck 3/24) by 7 runs. PTI DDV AH AH
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