India 214 (Mandhana 58, Harmanpreet 53, Gautam 43, Gardner 3-33) vs Australia
Trailing 4-2 on points after a 2-1 defeat in the T20I leg, Australia had been rocked by the news that Ellyse Perry and quick Kim Garth will miss the three-match ODI series with quad strains.
With captain Alyssa Healy taking charge to kick-start her retirement tour, Australia held sway for much of the innings on a seaming surface at the Allan Border Field before bowling India out in the 49th over. Schutt, a late inclusion into the squad, claimed 2 for 42 from 9 overs while Ashleigh Gardner finished with 3-33 from 7 overs.
Legspinner Alana King and Tahlia McGrath, who both were overlooked in the T20I series, claimed a wicket apiece as part of a disciplined attack that featured seven bowlers.
Mandhana held India’s top-order together after early wobbles with 58 off 68 balls before Harmanpreet rescued India from 103 for 5. She made 53 off 84 and shared a valuable 53-run seventh wicket partnership with Kashvee Gautam, who was included into the side after a solid WPL.
Given the overcast and humid conditions, there was some surprise when Harmanpreet elected to bat after the coin fell in her favour for the fourth straight time in the multi-series.
Australia’s seamers over the years at this ground have often blown away visiting teams with the new ball and it was a familiar start when Schutt trapped Pratika Rawal with a delivery that swung back wickedly.
It was a disappointing comeback for Rawal, who had made a quicker than expected return from knee and ankle injuries that cut short her World Cup. Rawal’s inclusion meant that Shafali Verma shifted to No. 3 having only opened the batting across her previous 31 ODIs.
But she was back in the familiar position of battling an early onslaught as she faced up to a pumped-up Schutt, who was unlucky not to add to her wicket tally in a threatening new-ball spell.
Kashvee Gautam sweeps with power•Getty Images and Cricket Australia
Schutt was well supported by Darcie Brown, who had a confidence boost after a lean T20I series when she dove forward to claim a return catch to dismiss Verma on 4.
India were in trouble at 52 for 3 when Jemimah Rodrigues, the hero during their record run chase in last year’s World Cup semi-final against Australia, edged Gardner to new full-time wicketkeeper Beth Mooney.
Mandhana had initially struggled against the moving ball and was fortunate that several edges flew through the slip cordon. But she started rediscovering her rhythm with several trademark cover drives and received support from Harmanpreet in a 48-run partnership.
Mandana had her eyes set on a record-equalling 15th ODI century, but in the 19th over misjudged a McGrath slower delivery and top-edged to fine-leg. Deepti Sharma fell in the same manner to King, who bowled well in tandem with left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux through the middle overs.
They tied down Richa Ghosh, who boasts India’s highest strike-rate in ODIs but could only hit 23 off 38 balls before hitting Molineux straight to backward point.
Gautam justified her selection with adventurous batting from the get go and she hit India’s only three sixes of the innings. Harmanpreet’s innings ended when she was superbly caught by a diving Georgia Voll at deep midwicket but Gautam’s 43 off 44 balls ensured India finished with a total they will be satisfied with after a tough start.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
