Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana starred with the bat as India stayed alive in the women’s T20I tri-series after a seven-wicket win against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.
Against world No 1 Australia, the openers laid the foundation for India’s highest successful run-chase in the shortest format.
Australia posted 173/5 courtesy a 57-ball 93 from Ashleigh Gardner and Meg Lanning’s 22-ball 37 after India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur elected to field at the Junction Oval.
India then overhauled the target in 19.4 overs, largely due to opener Shafali Verma’s 49 off 28 balls and Mandhana’s 55 off 48 balls.
Chasing an uphill 174 to keep their chances of qualifying for the final alive, India were off to a flying start thanks to the 16-year-old Verma. The teenager took on the Australian bowling lineup with carefree disdain, while Mandhana played ideal second fiddle.
Verma hit eight fours and a six in her 28-ball 49 while Mandhana played a steady hand to score a 48-ball 55. When the latter fell in the 19th over, India were on the verge of the win. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Deepti Sharma finished off the chase with two balls to spare despite a couple of late hiccups.
Earlier, put in to bat, Australia posted a challenging total against India in the fifth T20I of the series.
Ashleigh Gardner smashed a 57-ball 93, while Meg Lanning chipped in with a 22-ball 37.
Gardner sent the ball across the fence 11 times and blasted three sixes in her 57-ball innings.
For India, Deepti Sharma (2/27) was the most outstanding bowler, snapping two wickets, while Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/34), Radha Yadav (1/34) and Harleen Deol (1/21) took one wicket each.
Credit must also go to the Indian bowlers for restricting Australia below 180 after Gardner and Lanning put the hosts on target for a score close to 200. The wickets of the well-set duo helped India stem the run flow at the end, which proved critical.
Verma, after missing out in the previous matches of the series, gave India a flying start with her innings Her senior opening partner Mandhana on the other hand anchored the case with a solid knock.
After Verma was caught by Nicola Carey off Ellyse Perry’s ball, Jemimah Rodrigues came into the crease and made a quickfire 19-ball 30, studded with five hits to the fence. Her innings was cut short when she holed out to Alyssa Healy off Megan Schutt’s delivery in the 13th over.
Kaur (20* off 20 balls) then joined Mandhana and added 42 to take India close to the target. Mandhana was trapped LBW by Carey in the 19th over. The captain and Deepti Sharma (11* off 4 balls) then took the team to a resounding win.
India had earlier lost to Australia and England by an identical four-wicket margin in their last two matches in the series after starting with a win against Heather Knight’s side.
This meant that the Indian team had to win their final league game to stay alive and their chances of making the final will now depend on England winning the final match of the second stage against Australia.
Brief scores:
Australia: 173/5 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 93; Deepti Sharma 2/27).
India: 177/3 in 19.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 55, Shafali Verma 49; Megan Schutt 1/26).
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