India’s dramatic collapse costs a hopes of a mammoth total
India were on track for an imposing score in the Women’s World Cup clash against Australia, built on a solid opening stand but undone by a disastrous late-innings collapse. After Smriti Mandhana and Pratik Rawal stitched a 155-run partnership, India reached 294 for 4 in the 43rd over with a firm grip on the game. What followed, however, was a drastic fall from grace as the last six Indian wickets fell for 36 runs in seven overs, turning a possible 340-plus total into something far more slender and giving Australia a path back into the chase.
The opening stand: Mandhana and Rawal set the tempo
Mandhana smashed an elegant 80, while Rawal contributed 75, fueling India’s surge after a string of productive partnerships. The openers’ rhythm demonstrated the team’s potential when the top order clicks. Their stand gave India a platform to post a formidable target, one that would have challenged even Australia’s formidable batting lineup on a day when the pitch appeared conducive to stroke play.
India’s middle and lower order falter again
Despite the early momentum, the middle order failed to convert the solid start into a decisive finishing push. India’s middle and lower-order batters were unable to capitalise in the death overs, a recurring theme that has stung the team in several recent matches. The collapse underscored a structural problem: while the top order has shown resilience, the batters in the heart of the lineup have not been able to anchor innings when things tighten in the final overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s verdict: batting, not bowling, the decisive factor
Speaking after the match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur focused on the batting lapse rather than the bowling display. “The way we started, we could have added 30-40 more runs,” she said, reflecting a sense of missed opportunities in the last five overs of India’s innings. “We missed runs in the last six overs and that cost us. It was a good batting wicket, but not batting well in the end made the difference.”
Harmanpreet added that the openness of the surface allowed for aggressive shotmaking, but emphasized the need for finishing power in the death overs. The team’s inability to convert a strong start into a competitive tally appeared to be the defining factor in a game India led but ultimately lost.
Aussie chase: Sutherland’s breakthrough and a historic finish
Australia chased down 331 with three wickets in hand, authored by a record-successful pursuit in women’s ODI history. Annabel Sutherland’s maiden five-wicket haul (5/40) gave Australia the early break needed to wrestle back control, while Alyssa Healy’s stunning 142 off 107 balls and Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 47 guided the chase home with an over to spare. Sutherland’s spell turned the game on its head, highlighting how a lower-order burst can flip a match when a defending team allows momentum to shift late.
Strategic notes: the five-bowler plan under scrutiny
India’s five-bowler strategy, designed to strengthen batting depth with five bowling options, came under scrutiny after the Australian run chase. While the plan paid dividends at times, the bowling unit largely failed to contain Healy and the middle order, and Harmanpreet hinted that the team might revisit combinations. “We’ll sit and discuss. This combination has given us success, and two bad games are not going to change that,” she said, signaling a willingness to reassess in the wake of consecutive high-scoring performances against the best teams in the world.
What comes next for India
The result leaves India with lessons on finishing and pressure handling in the late overs. The captain’s emphasis on batting discipline in the death overs will be crucial as they regroup for their next assignment. With immensely talented openers already delivering match-winning starts, the focus will shift to sustaining that momentum and ensuring every batter contributes when the heat is on. The World Cup schedule continues, and India will be chasing consistency just as relentlessly as opponents chase their totals.
