In the second women’s one-dayer, Alyssa Healy’s outstanding knock had raised the stakes for the visitors, but fine half-centuries from Yastika Bhatia, Radha Yadav, and Tanuja Kanwar helped India A to an exciting two-wicket triumph over Australia A in Brisbane on Friday.
India now lead the three-match series of the multi-format trip 2-0 after the victory, which was secured with one ball remaining. The three-match T20 series had ended in a 0-3 loss for India A.
India was struggling at 193 for 7 after losing Yastika (66 off 71 balls) and Radha (60 off 78 balls) as they chased a robust 265 for 9, which was primarily constructed on Australian captain Healy’s 87-ball 91.
But spin-bowling all-rounder Tanuja stepped up with a composed 50 off 57 balls, orchestrating a fightback that saw India A clinch victory on the penultimate delivery of the match.
Prema Rawat (32 not out), who has been outstanding with the ball throughout the series, and left-arm spinner Tanuja formed a 68-run partnership for the eighth wicket as the two took it upon themselves to frustrate the home team’s onslaught.
The duo curbed their attacking instincts, concentrating instead on the daunting task before them. With sharp running between the wickets, they steadily built their partnership into a match-winning alliance.
Tanuja fell just short of the target, but Prema and pacer Titas Sadhu held their nerve in the final over, collecting the five crucial runs needed to seal the win against Australia A.
After seeing opening partner Shafali Verma (4) and Dhara Gujjar (0) quickly return to the dressing room, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika showed an early willingness to fight.
Shafali, who is yet to reach a half-century in the current series, has had a lackluster tour. The youthful opener is hoping to make the team for the Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka later this year, but her performance in this series after her touching performance in the recently finished India tour of England could hurt her chances.
Yastika played with tenacity as she worked to get India out of difficulty by crafting her innings with the aid of nine boundaries. She kept plodding even though things did not appear to be going well at 83/4. She eventually fell in the 29th over, leaving India A in a much stronger position at 151/5.
Before departing in the 39th over, captain Radha Yadav, who shared a 68-run partnership with Yastika for the fifth wicket, carried on the good work, leaving India at 193/7 with a considerable amount of ground to cover.
However, India A finally crossed the finish line thanks to Tanuja and Prema’s resolve.
Earlier, Healy’s 91, which included three sixes and eight boundaries, gave the hosts a commanding total of 265/9.
Healy, who will be captaining Australia’s campaign in the next Women’s Cricket World Cup in the Indian subcontinent, seemed to be preparing well for the international competition as she set the stage for a competitive total despite missing a century.
Following Australia A’s defeat, she and Rachel Trenaman (24) shared a 58-run partnership for the second wicket. The hosts got back on track thanks to Tahlia Wilson. Despite losing partners at the other end, the seasoned keeper-batter maintained the scoring pace.
The hosts were reduced to 155/5 after Healy’s exit in the 30th over, which was a major blow. But the hosts managed to put up a fight with a late 41 from pace bowling mainstay Kim Garth.
