India Women Falter Against Australia's Resurgence in T20 International; Lack of Consistency Haunts

India Women's lack of consistency is still hurting them, as they lost to Australia in the second Twenty20 International at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday due to subpar performance.

After losing the first match of the series by nine wickets, the Australians recovered to win by six wickets to tie the score at one.

When the Indians batted first, they were shaky from the start, managing only a meager 130/8. The world champions, who maintained their composure throughout the run chase and maintained their composure at the end to surpass India's total with an over remaining, were not at all put under any strain from such a number.

India could never recover after losing Shafali Verma to medium bowler Kim Garth early in the second over of the match, who later claimed the crucial wicket of Jemimah Rodrigues. The visitors continued to strike at regular intervals. The only players who could muster any sort of resistance against the likes of Kim Garth (2/27), Annabel Sutherland (2/18), and Goergia Wareham (2/17), were keeper-batter Richa Ghosh (23) and off-spinner Deepti Sharma (30).

Sharma Deepti on Sunday.
PTI image
India were in trouble at 107/7 in the 18th over as Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur failed to muster any form of response. Before Deepti managed to score a few runs to raise the total to 130, even 120 seemed a long way off.

In response, Australia got off to a great start thanks to captain Alyssa Healy (26), who scored 51 in seven overs, and Beth Mooney. After Deepti (2/22) hit a wicket in the 16th over to reduce Australia to 97/4, India attempted to get back into the game.

Ellyse Perry (34 not out) and Phoebe Litchfield (18 not out) on the other hand maintained their composure and led their team home.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.