Annabel Sutherland averaged 160 after playing two international innings at the WACA. (Getty Images: James Worsfold)
Annabel Sutherland’s love affair with the WACA continues as Australia win the Women’s ODI by 83 runs and sweep India 3-0 in the series.
Sutherland was dismissed in the 12th and 24th overs but she scored an impressive 110 runs off 95 balls as Australia took a formidable 6-298 in 40-degree heat on Wednesday.
India were then bowled out for 215 in 45.1 overs, with Ashleigh Gardner taking a career-best 5-30 in front of 1,484 fans.
Smriti Mandhana (105 off 109 balls) batted alone for India as Australia fielded poorly.
Mandhana was bowled in the 27th over and Harleen Deol (39) got life in the 21st and 33rd overs as India was 3-189 in the 36th over.
But when Gardner bowled Mandhana, the score fell apart and India lost 6-14, instantly shattering their hopes of victory.
Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner (centre) is congratulated by her teammates after she beat India’s Smriti Mandhana during the third ODI match between the Australian Women’s team and the Indian Women’s team at the WACA Stadium in Perth, Wednesday, December 11, 2024. (AAP: Richard Wainwright)
Australia conceded five goals in the match against India – an issue they will hope to address ahead of their three-match ODI tour of New Zealand and the Ashes series at home in January.
Georgia Voll limped off the field late in the Indian game after a fielding error caused her knee to hyperextend.
Despite Australia being outclassed on the field and suffering a collapse in their top line-up, Sutherland’s second ODI century and scores from Gardner (50 off 64 balls) and Talia McGrath (56 off 50 balls) ensured the hosts a comfortable win.
It was Sutherland’s second century at the WACA Stadium this year, having scored 210 in Australia’s Test match against South Africa in February.
Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and Ashleigh Gardner pose during the third ODI match between the Australian Women’s team and the Indian Women’s team at the WACA Stadium in Perth, Wednesday, December 11, 2024. (AAP: Richard Wainwright)
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the hosts.
Australia lost at 4-78 in the 17th over thanks to a brilliant performance from fifth batsman Arundhati Reddy (4-26 in 10th over).
The score should have been 5-82 — but Gardner got life after throwing just three bombs.
Gardner was knocked down by Jemima Rodriguez and one ball later was awarded a leg tackle – but that decision was overturned on review.
This prevented Reddy from taking his maiden five-wicket haul.
Gardner went on to hit her sixth half-century, while Sutherland went one better, hitting nine fours and four sixes.
Reddy was not selected for the first two matches of the series but the 27-year-old Indian batsman played a devastating role at the WACA.
Arundhati Reddy missed the first two matches of the ODI series. (Getty Images: James Worsfold)
Openers Phoebe Litchfield (25 off 33 balls) and Wall (26 off 30 balls) guided Australia to 0-58 in 10 overs after the hosts lost the toss and were sent out to bat in stifling Perth weather.
But Reddy’s appearance led to the score collapse at 4-20, with the Indian fast bowler taking four wickets.
Reddy’s first wicket on Australian soil was a memorable one, as he swung the ball beautifully towards bowler Wale.
Litchfield were one run behind after three balls and Perry’s hopes of consecutive centuries were dashed when he was bowled for four by Reddy.
Beth Mooney scored just 10 points after a narrow win over Reddy, but India’s defence was poor and Sutherland and Gardner were caught out on several occasions on their way to a high score, which cost India dearly.
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Key Events
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Australia defeats Inida by 83 runs
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WICKET. ALANA KING GETS THE FINAL WICKET
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Georgia Voll off the field after hyperextending her knee
That is all for the ABC Sport live blog
Thanks Mick for another long personal blog post that brings us to the highlights of a close game – until Ash Gardner spoiled India’s plans.
-Mike
Australia completely swept India.
The competition was more intense today, but the Australian team performed very well that day.
Annabel Sutherland sealed the victory with a century, while Ash Gardner’s five-wicket haul sealed the win.
Australia’s next match will be against New Zealand in the Women’s ODI series.
Keep up to date with the latest news with ABC Sport online.
What is next for Australia?
Australia will now travel across the Tasman Sea to play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
Then there’s the Ashes in January.
Australia may face some injury concerns.
Georgia Voll and Sophie Molineux did not finish the match tonight.
Alyssa Healy’s condition is also being closely monitored.
There’s a lot to think about in the coming weeks.
Australia defeats Inida by 83 runs
（Opta)
WICKET. ALANA KING GETS THE FINAL WICKET
Alana King pitched and struck out Titas Sadhu, who was caught by Tahlia McGrath and hit to center field.
45th over — Sutherland continues
Annabel Sutherland is pitching to Titas Sadhu.
Sutherland beat Titus with a slower ball.
Beaten. Titus was beaten by a good line and long ball outside off.
Sutherland then hit a corner ball but then got back on target with a nice short ball.
Titus hit the last ball to the leg side for a run.
44th over — Ash Gardner to bowl her last over
Ash Gardner begins her final round.
Thakur swung and missed, and then the same thing happened again.
The Indian batsman hit the ball with his pads but failed to score.
Thakur swung the bat hard and hit the ball past mid-court for two runs.
Thakur took another strong swing but failed to hit the stumps.
Gade bowled her final over but was blocked by Thakur.
43rd over — Sutherland continues
Sutherland came on as a substitute and Titas got a single.
Thakur then hit the ball to the ground and scored a single on the last ball of the innings.
WICKET. ASH GARDNER HAS FIVE WICKETS
Ash Gardner holds the ball towards the crowd after taking five wickets in his first ODI.
She trapped Arundhati Reddy on the pads. The umpire declared not out but Australia reviewed.
It looks close, but it’s actually better than close.
Out.
42nd over — Gardner hunting a five-wicket haul
Ash Gardner bowled to Arundhati Reddy and hit her on her leg pads.
Umpire says not out. Australia reviews. Score is close.
Oh, and the tracking of the ball shows that the umpire has made a call on the wicket being hit.
Thakur survived.
41st over — Annabel Sutherland to bowl
Annabel Sutherland pitched to Arundhati Reddy who got a single.
Titas Sadhu is the new batsman.
Wide. Sutherland rolls down the leg side.
Sutherland then threw a short ball, but Titus missed it.
Four more penalties and the round is over.
40th over continues — Molineux goes off, Garnder get another wicket
Sophie Molineux walks off the pitch accompanied by her coach.
Not sure if she was injured or if she just couldn’t handle the heat of the day.
She may have been injured trying to steal the ball during Schutt’s previous pitch.
Ash Gardner continues to bowl and now bowls to Saima Thakor.
Thakor took four dot balls and then swept the ball down Kim Garth’s throat at short fine leg.
This was Gardner’s fourth wicket.
Georgia Voll off the field after hyperextending her knee
Georgia Voll appeared to hyperextend her knee while fielding and left the field and never returned.
Hopefully she’s just doing this out of caution.
WICKET. ASH GARDNER GET HER THIRD
go out.
Minnu Mani skipped over the wicket and hit Ash Gardner’s ball to Phoebe Litchfield at mid-on.
39th over — Schutt continues after dropping a sitter
Megan Schutt must have been in a bad mood when she rushed onto the court for her seventh round.
She pitched to Thakur who was defending.
Thakur hits the ball in the air and it lands safely. Thakur scores a single.
Minou gets hit in the hip and then goes on defense.
4. Minu plays it beautifully, he hits it over front leg and towards the mid-off boundary.
This brings the number of Indians to 200.
Minnu pulled the last ball but Ash Gardner’s excellent fielding kept the score to just one run.
38th over — Ash Gardner continues
Gardner bowled to Thakur who hit a single from the leading edge.
Minu failed to score on his second delivery and then hit it over the leg side for two runs.
Gardner scored two runs.
Dropped. Megan Schutt dropped off a perfectly reliable babysitter. Minnu should be heading to the shed.
Sadly, this is pretty bad.
37th over continues
The Indian batsmen were Renuka Singh Thakur and Minnu Mani, both of whom did not bat.
Thakur faced a pair of balls and then a single.
Mani scored one point and Thakur added another to end Megan Schutt’s game.
WICKET. MEGAN SCHUTT GETS A CAUGHT AND BOWLED
Megan Schutt returned to the offense and hit first.
She pitched to Jemimah Rodrigues, who made a powerful pull.
The ball flew straight into the air and Shute caught it.
That is to say, five goals scored three points.
WICKET. GARDNER GETS TWO IN AN OVER
Deepti Sharma stepped up to bat and continued to hit for three balls.
A ball popped up off Deepti’s shin pads and Australia asked Beth Mooney to catch it.
The umpire declared it not out but Australia immediately reviewed the match.
A clear inside edge on the pads. Ash Gardner takes two big wickets in one over.
WICKET. SMRITI BOWLED BY GARDNER
Ash Gardner rejoined the offense and nearly passed the ball to Rodrigues, but Alana King missed a tough chance.
Then, century creator Smriti hit a boundary through the leg side.
But Gardner had the last laugh. She glided past Smriti.
bowling.
A wonderful game has ended.
35th over — Sutherland continues
Rodriguez hits the ball to fine leg with a paddle-sweep for a point.
Smriti then hit a single.
Annabel Sutherland threw a short ball that hit Rodriguez’s body and the Indian broke through and kicked the ball out of bounds.
Smriti dribbled unscored and then dodged a nice short ball.
Sutherland ended the game with another hollow-ball as Smriti passed the ball to the fielder.
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