Hobart, Feb 27 (NationPress) In the second ODI of the women’s multi-format series at the Bellerive Oval on Friday, India achieved a total of 251/9 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to impressive half-centuries from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Pratika Rawal. However, this score may fall short on a pitch that provided minimal assistance to bowlers.

Harmanpreet was the top scorer with 54 runs off 70 balls, while Pratika contributed 52 runs off 81 balls. For Australia, bowlers Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, and Ashleigh Gardner each took two wickets, effectively controlling the scoring rate and preventing India's batters from capitalizing on good starts.

The innings followed a familiar narrative for India, marked by moments of promise and frustration. Pratika and Smriti Mandhana set a solid foundation with a partnership of 78 runs within the first 16 overs, yet the middle order stumbled. A late surge of 73 runs in the final 10 overs, primarily driven by Harmanpreet's calm half-century and a dynamic cameo from debutant Vaishnavi Sharma, helped India surpass the 250-run mark.

Choosing to bat first, Pratika and Smriti dazzled early with their boundaries. Although the last five overs of the power-play yielded no boundaries, it marked the fifth instance in the last seven encounters that Australia did not take a wicket during the mandatory powerplay.

Smriti appeared unsettled throughout her innings and was dropped three times before being dismissed for 31 runs, caught out trying a risky paddle shot off Ashleigh Gardner. This ended her 16th fifty-plus stand with Pratika in ODIs.

After Jemimah Rodrigues was caught behind off Annabel, Pratika maintained her composure to reach a well-deserved half-century off 76 balls before being run out due to a poor mix-up with Harmanpreet.

This moment proved crucial as Australia staged a comeback—Amanjot Kaur was caught behind off Nicola Carey, Deepti Sharma was dismissed at deep mid-wicket, and Richa Ghosh was trapped lbw by Alana, leaving Harmanpreet to shoulder the innings nearly single-handedly. She received valuable support from Kashvee Gautam, with whom she built a 55-run partnership before Kashvee was bowled by Ashleigh after scoring 25 runs off 34 balls.

Harmanpreet rose to the occasion, achieving her half-century off 66 balls before falling for 54 runs, caught at cover-point off Megan Schutt with just one over remaining. After Kranti Gaud contributed a useful 19 runs, debutant Vaishnavi Sharma provided the necessary late momentum, hitting two boundaries in the final over to elevate India’s score past 250.

Summary: India 251/9 in 50 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54, Pratika Rawal 52; Ashleigh Gardner 2-39, Alana King 2-41) against Australia.