India A women scripted a stunning run-chase victory on Friday, 25 September 2026, overhauling Australia A's formidable 362/9 at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali to win the third and final 50-over match by four wickets and clinch the multi-format series 2-1. The 363-run pursuit — completed in 48.2 overs — currently stands as the second-highest successful run chase in women's 50-over cricket history.

Minnu Mani and Niki Prasad Power the Chase Home

The victory was built on a collective batting effort, but two performances stood out. Off-spin bowling all-rounder Minnu Mani was at her devastating best in the finishing stages, cracking an unbeaten 88 off 56 balls at a strike rate of 157.14, featuring 12 fours and three sixes. She first shared a match-turning 106-run stand with Niki Prasad, then stitched an unbroken 47-run partnership with Jintimani Kalita (19 not out) to take India A to the finish line with 10 balls to spare.

Niki Prasad delivered an outstanding all-round display — a crisp 76 off 71 balls, decorated with ten boundaries and a six, followed by a crucial 4-wicket haul for 82 runs with the ball. Her bowling earlier in the day proved equally decisive in restricting Australia A after the visitors had looked set to post an even bigger score.

A Solid Foundation from the Top Order

Opener Tanisha Singh set the tone with a composed 60 off 58 balls, laced with 11 boundaries, sharing a 67-run opening stand with Vrinda Dinesh (34). When Uma Chetry and Tejal Hasabnis fell cheaply for 2 each, it was the middle-order partnership between Niki and Anushka Sharma that shifted the momentum decisively. Anushka's aggressive 58 off 42 balls — featuring four boundaries and three sixes — kept the required run rate in check before Minnu Mani delivered the coup de grâce. Notably, India A achieved this without the services of Yastika Bhatia, Priya Punia, and Sayali Satghare.

Australia A's Knott and Webb Set a Daunting Target

Australia A's massive total was built on a 166-run third-wicket partnership between Charli Knott and Courtney Webb. Knott was in imperious form, hammering a 70-ball 109 at a strike rate of 155.71, with 12 boundaries and five sixes. Webb was equally fluent, falling agonisingly short of a century with a 92-ball 95 that included seven boundaries. The pair had wrested control after left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma had removed both openers — captain Tahlia Wilson (38) and Rachel Trenaman (29) — in the 13th over, reducing Australia A from a solid 75-run opening stand.

A late blitz from Hayley Silver-Holmes (19 off 8 balls) pushed the visitors beyond the 360-mark, but Niki Prasad (4-82) and Vaishnavi Sharma (4-68) combined to prevent an even more daunting total.

A Historic Chase in Context

The 363-run pursuit now sits second on the all-time list for successful run chases in women's 50-over cricket. The outright record belongs to Bengal, who chased down 390 against Haryana during the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy in 2024 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. At the international level, New Zealand hold the record, having successfully chased 347 against South Africa Women at the Basin Reserve in Wellington earlier this year. Remarkably, this match had no live streaming coverage, meaning the feat went largely unwatched in real time.

What Comes Next

The multi-format series between the two sides concludes with a four-day red-ball game starting on 29 September at the same venue in Mohali. India A will carry significant confidence into the Test having demonstrated both batting depth and bowling discipline across the white-ball leg of the series.

Brief Scores: Australia A 362/9 in 50 overs (Charli Knott 109, Courtney Webb 95; Vaishnavi Sharma 4-68, Niki Prasad 4-82) lost to India A 364/6 in 48.2 overs (Minnu Mani 88 not out, Niki Prasad 76, Tanisha Singh 60, Anushka Sharma 58; Charli Knott 2-57, Lily Mills 2-81) by four wickets.