IND-W Vs AUS-W, 2nd ODI: India Look To Level Series With Focus On Fielding Against Australia | Cricket News

India’s significant defeat against Australia in the opening women’s ODI may have dampened spirits ahead of the World Cup, but the team is determined to level the series against Alyssa Healy’s side with improved bowling and fielding in the second match on Wednesday.

Australia had beaten OmdoIndia by eight wickets for a 1-0 lead in their three-match series.

India Women Team News

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s team performed well with the bat, posting a challenging total thanks to half-centuries from key batters Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, and Hareen Deol.

However, poor fielding was their downfall again in the first game.

India dropped four catches, allowing Australia, who will be one of their toughest opponents alongside England in the upcoming women’s World Cup, to chase down 281 runs rapidly.

Ahead of the second game, senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma downplayed the fielding errors.

“There was no problem as such. We have done well in past few series fielding-wise as a unit,” Deepti told the media.

“There can be an off day for any team, any team can make mistakes but we will not focus much on that. We will focus on all that we did right and take it forward,” she said.

Australia Women Team News

Australia, meanwhile, appear to be gearing up in a manner that could make them unstoppable in their quest for a record-extending eighth ODI World Cup title. The Indian team management is well aware of this.

While home conditions and pitches favour Australia, India faltered, with much of the blame lying with their fielding, middle and lower-order batting, and spinners, who are expected to lead India’s quest for the elusive trophy.

The four spinners India used in the opening match lacked penetration, with only veteran Sneh Rana taking a wicket, while Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, and Radha Yadav went wicketless.

Australia’s familiarity with Indian conditions, owing to their players’ participation in the Women’s Premier League and bilateral series, may have also aided them.

Australia vice-captain Tahlia McGrath had accurately noted before the series that her players “have been quite lucky” to travel to India frequently.

The loss should serve as a wake-up call for India, as any total near 300 can be easily chased by the Australians, who have experienced players like Healy, Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, and Annabel Sutherland.

All of them scored heavily in the previous game, indicating the team’s readiness for the World Cup, starting in less than a fortnight. Perry, however, might be a doubtful starter on Wednesday after retiring hurt on 30 in the first match.

India’s middle order, including Jemimah Rodrigues, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma, needs to show the capability to bat long and deep if India is to consistently post competitive totals.

Despite scoring 281, with Rawal and Mandhana putting on a 114-run opening stand, India fell about 30 runs short, and Harmanpreet admitted it was below par against a team like Australia.

In this context, India will be aiming for a much-improved performance in all three departments on Wednesday.

IND-W vs AUS-W: Squads

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Uma Chetry, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sayali Satghare, Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav.

Australia: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Tahlia McGrath, Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Charli Knott, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

(With inputs from PTI)