The Indw vs ausw t20 series took an intense turn on Thursday as Australia Women defeated India Women by 17 runs in the second T20 International at Canberra. With this result, the three-match series is now evenly poised at 1-1, setting up a thrilling decider in Adelaide.
After posting a competitive total of 163 runs, Australia’s bowlers held their nerve to restrict India to 144/9, despite a promising start from the visitors. A dramatic middle-order collapse, in which India lost six wickets for just seven runs, ultimately proved decisive.
Australia Build a Strong Platform After Being Sent In
India won the toss and opted to field first, hoping to restrict the hosts to a manageable total. However, Australia’s opening pair had other plans.
Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney delivered a commanding performance at the top of the order. The duo stitched together a 128-run partnership for the first wicket, putting India’s bowlers under early pressure. At one stage, Australia looked set to cross the 180-run mark with ease.
By the 15th over, Australia had raced to 128 without losing a wicket. But just when it seemed the hosts would run away with the game, the Indian bowlers mounted a comeback. They managed to pull things back in the final overs, limiting Australia to 163/5 in 20 overs.
Georgia Voll was the standout performer, smashing 88 runs off 57 deliveries, including 11 boundaries and a six. Her fluent knock earned her the Player of the Match award. Beth Mooney contributed a steady 46 from 39 balls, anchoring the innings alongside Voll.
Below is a quick look at Australia’s top performances:
| Australia Batting | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Voll | 88 | 57 | 11 | 1 |
| Beth Mooney | 46 | 39 | — | — |
For India, Arundhati Reddy was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets. Renuka Thakur claimed one, while two Australian batters were run out during the closing stages.
India’s Strong Start Fades Under Pressure
Chasing 164 in the Indw vs ausw t20 clash, India began confidently. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana attacked from the outset, scoring freely during the powerplay.
India reached 54 without loss in the first six overs, giving fans hope of a successful chase. Shafali was eventually dismissed for 29 when the score was 57 in the seventh over. By the end of the 10th over, India had slipped to 71/3, losing momentum.
The innings was steadied by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who built a valuable 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their stand briefly revived India’s chances and brought the equation within reach.
However, once that partnership was broken, the match turned dramatically. In a stunning collapse, India lost six wickets for just seven runs, effectively ending their hopes of victory.
Harmanpreet top-scored for India with 36 runs, while Mandhana added 31. Despite a promising foundation, India failed to maintain composure during the crucial middle overs.
Here is a summary of India’s key contributions:
| India Batting | Runs |
|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 36 |
| Smriti Mandhana | 31 |
| Shafali Verma | 29 |
Australia’s bowling attack was clinical in the death overs. Ashleigh Gardner led the charge with three wickets. Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland, and Sophie Molineux each chipped in with two wickets, ensuring India never recovered from their collapse.
Also read: Indian Women Cricket Team for Australia Tour: New Faces and Key Players Announced
Series Now Headed for a Decider
With both teams winning one match each, the Indw vs ausw t20 series is finely balanced at 1-1. India had claimed victory in the first T20, but Australia responded strongly in Canberra to level the contest.
The third and final match will be played on February 21 at Adelaide Stadium. With pride and series honours at stake, both sides will be eager to deliver their best performance.
For India, the key focus will be maintaining composure in pressure situations and converting solid starts into match-winning totals. Australia, on the other hand, will aim to replicate their top-order dominance and disciplined bowling display.