Sutherland, Gardner steer Australia Women to 3-0 win over India

Annabel Sutherland’s blistering 95-ball 110 followed by 5/30 from Ashleigh Gardner completed a 3-0 clean sweep for Australia Women in the three-match ODI series against India. 

The visitors were no match to Australia’s domination and the same story repeated in Perth. Australia romped to a total of 298/6 batting first and bowled India out for 215, thus securing a 83-run win. 

Sutherland also snapped 1/34 with the ball in her nine overs while Gardner scored 50 off 64 balls. Australia were 78/4 at one point when Sutherland and Gardner got together and added 96 for the fifth wicket off 107 deliveries. 

"Very happy, in particular, Ash [Gardner] and Belsy [Sutherland] were good with bat and ball. Someone different has stood up every game, collective approach and we back each other and everyone is stoked for them,” said Tahlia McGrath, Australia’s stand-in captain. 

Australia won the second ODI by 122 runs, after posting a mammoth 371/8 in Brisbane. “Our batting is the highlight for me, our top four took the game on in game two, Belsy today,” McGrath added. 

McGrath herself scored an unbeaten 56 off 50 balls batting at number seven as Australia scored 86 runs in the last 10 overs. 

“Ash and I were able to grind through and cash in towards the back end. Always tough to find ways to climb up the order. Girls have batted beautifully. We spoke about how we want to play and glad it came off in these two games,” said Sutherland about the partnership with Gardner and her hundred. 

Smriti Mandhana was the lone warrior in India’s run chase. While she scored 105 off 109 deliveries with 14 fours and one six (62 runs in boundaries), the rest of the 10 batters scored only 93 runs put together. 

India were bowled out in all three ODIs – 100 in the first match, 249 in the second and 215 in the third. In this clash, the visitors skittled from 189/3 to 215 all out under the pressure of the mounting asking rate.

“We have a lot to learn from these games, will go back and analyze the tour. Smriti’s knock and when Richa [Ghosh] scored 50 in the second game, that was crucial,” said the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur reflecting on the disappointing tour and its positives. 

India will now host West Indies for three ODIs and three T20Is, starting December 15, to get back to the winning track. 

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