Tejal, Anushka star as India Women A beat Australia A by 4 wickets in 1st ODI
Synopsis
Reduced to 46 for three, India Women A looked in danger — until Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma took control. Their 126-run fourth-wicket stand not only saved the chase but powered India A to a four-wicket win over Australia A in Mohali, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead after losing the T20I series 3-0.
Key Takeaways
India Women A defeated Australia Women A by four wickets in the first unofficial ODI at Mohali on 20 September .
Tejal Hasabnis top-scored with 81 off 82 balls (six sixes, five fours); Anushka Sharma added 55 off 61 balls .
Their 126-run fourth-wicket partnership rescued India A from a precarious 46 for three .
Vaishnavi Sharma and Nikki Prasad each took three wickets to bowl Australia A out for 235 .
India A lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 ; next matches on 23 and 25 September , followed by a one-off Test from 29 September .
Australia A had swept the preceding T20I series 3-0 .
Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma forged a match-winning 126-run fourth-wicket partnership as India Women A chased down 236 to defeat Australia Women A by four wickets in the first unofficial ODI of the three-match series at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, on Sunday, 20 September. The result gives India A a 1-0 lead in the series.
India A's Chase: From Crisis to Triumph
India A found themselves in early trouble at 46 for three before Tejal and Anushka steadied a fragile innings. Their 126-run stand carried the score to 172 and fundamentally shifted the complexion of the chase. Anushka Sharma contributed 55 off 61 balls, laced with seven boundaries, before falling to give Australia a brief foothold.
Tejal Hasabnis proved the more durable of the two, eventually finishing on 81 off 82 balls — an innings that featured six sixes and five fours. Her ability to rotate the strike and accelerate when needed proved decisive in what was a tense run-chase under pressure.
With the target still some distance away after Anushka's dismissal, Nikki Prasad and Sayali Satghare sealed the win. Nikki first added 23 runs alongside Tejal before combining with Satghare for a 40-run stand. Satghare scored 25, while Nikki remained unbeaten on 32, hitting five boundaries, as India A reached the target in 41.1 overs, posting 239 for six.
For Australia A, Tess Flintoff and Frankie Nicklin took two wickets each, finishing with figures of 2 for 35 and 2 for 49 respectively.
Australia A's Innings: Solid Start, Familiar Collapse
Invited to bat first, Australia A were bowled out for 235 in 46.3 overs — a total that, on paper, looked competitive but ultimately proved inadequate. Rachel Trenaman and captain Tahlia Wilson gave Australia a confident foundation, adding 81 runs for the opening wicket. Trenaman fell for 36, while Wilson contributed 48 with eight boundaries.
Australia lost both openers by 87, and though Charlie Nott and Katie Mack rebuilt briefly with a 62-run third-wicket stand off 54 balls — Nott making 39 and Mack 23 — the lower order struggled. Australia slipped to 174 for six before Tess Flintoff and Sianna Ginger contributed 27 runs for the seventh wicket. A 20-run last-wicket stand between Millie Illingworth and Frankie Nicklin nudged the total to 235.
Vaishnavi Sharma and Nikki Prasad were the standout bowlers for India A, claiming three wickets each — Sharma finishing with 3 for 40 and Prasad with 3 for 28. Amandeep Kaur chipped in with two wickets.
Series Context and Background
The ODI leg of the tour arrives on the back of a difficult T20I campaign for the hosts. Australia A had earlier completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match T20I series, winning by six wickets, 30 runs, and seven runs respectively. The ODI victory will provide India A significant confidence and a chance to level the overall tour narrative.
The remaining two ODIs are scheduled for 23 September and 25 September, with the two sides then set to meet in a one-off Test match beginning 29 September.
What's Next
With momentum now firmly in India A's corner, the second ODI on 23 September will be pivotal in shaping the series. Australia A will need to restructure their batting approach after a collapse through the middle order that cost them a potentially match-winning total. India A, meanwhile, will look to their bowling trio of Vaishnavi Sharma, Nikki Prasad, and Amandeep Kaur to keep the pressure on.
Point of View
But the margin of victory — chasing only 236 — should not obscure how close Australia came to making this match uncomfortable. India's top-order fragility at 46 for three is a recurring concern in women's 'A' cricket, and the heavy dependence on a single middle-order partnership underlines the depth question that selectors must address. Tejal Hasabnis's innings, however, was the kind of pressure-performance that earns senior call-ups, and that is the real story worth tracking ahead of the one-off Test.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the 1st India Women A vs Australia Women A ODI?
India Women A beat Australia Women A by four wickets in the first unofficial ODI at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, on 20 September. India A chased down 236, posting 239 for six in 41.1 overs.
Who were the top performers for India Women A?
Tejal Hasabnis top-scored with 81 off 82 balls, hitting six sixes and five fours, while Anushka Sharma contributed 55 off 61 balls. With the ball, Vaishnavi Sharma and Nikki Prasad each claimed three wickets.
How did the 126-run partnership change the match?
India A were reduced to 46 for three before Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma came together for their 126-run fourth-wicket stand. The partnership took the score from 46 to 172 and effectively turned the match in India's favour.
When are the next matches in the India Women A vs Australia Women A series?
The second and third unofficial ODIs are scheduled for 23 September and 25 September respectively. Following the ODI series, the two sides will play a one-off Test match beginning 29 September.
How did Australia Women A perform in the preceding T20I series?
Australia Women A completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match T20I series ahead of the ODIs. They won the first T20I by six wickets, the second by 30 runs, and the third by seven runs.
