IND W vs AUS W 2nd T20I: Aussies secure win at DY Patil to level the series

After tough loss in first game, Australia return to beat India by six wickets in second encounter, thanks to star batter Ellyse’s 34-run blitz in her 300th game at DY Patil; decider on Tuesday

India failed to capitalise on Friday’s 1-0 start to the series, going down to Australia by six wickets in the second game of the three-match T20I series at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night.

It all started with India losing the toss. Not only did the heavy dew factor in for Australia captain Alyssa Healy, but also the fact that her team knew exactly how much to chase. And, they did not have to pursue a massive target—only 131—as their bowlers were brilliant.  The Indians fell into the traps set by the Aussies.

It was a quiet start for India with Shafali Verma (the half-centurion two evenings ago) falling leg before to Kim Garth, the medium-pacer who replaced Darcie Brown from the previous encounter, in the match’s second over.

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Far too less performers

Except for a few attractive shots, initially by Jemimah Rodrigues, who picked speedster Megan Schutt for two successive fours, and later by Richa Ghosh, India struggled to get going fluently. Rodrigues became Garth’s second victim in her second over.

Smriti Mandhana’s six over mid-wicket off Kim Garth in the last Powerplay over gave some hope of the Indian batter taking charge in the company of captain Harmanpreet Kaur. However, Mandhana fell to Annabel Sutherland in the quick’s first over, pulling straight to Ellyse Perry at deep midwicket.

Celebrating her 300th international appearance, Perry was in action again as Harmanpreet found her at deep backward square-leg, sweeping off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner.
Runs too were not easy to come by, even as Ghosh played attacking shots, managing to get an edge to fly over the wicketkeeper. Deepti Sharma swept her way to top score for India with 30 before being run out in the last delivery of the innings, courtesy Perry’s throw from square leg to the stumper. Healy safely negotiated the nine deliveries she faced from Renuka Singh and gave Australia a bright start. 

Healy took on the other bowlers—player of the match on Friday—Titas Sadhu and off-spinner Shreyanka Patil for fours.

Two for Deepti

However, after raising her 14th 50-plus partnership with Beth Mooney, Healy became the first of Deepti’s two victims, holing out to long-on fielder Shreyanka Patil. Mooney followed her skipper in the next over, drawn out by Deepti to be stumped.

From 51-0 to 58-2 in seven deliveries did not affect Australia as Perry (34 not out) played attractive shots to stay till the end, her second six over midwicket off Patil sealing the match and taking the series to Tuesday’s decider. Perry’s third wicket partnership of 31 with Tahlia McGrath and 36 for an unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Phoebe Litchfield made it that more easier for the visitors.

Brief scores
India 130-8 in 20 overs (D Sharma 30; G Wareham 2-17, A Sutherland 2-18, K Garth 2-27) lost to Australia 133-4 in 19 overs (E Perry 34*; D Sharma 2-22) by six wickets

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