Skipper Meg Lanning led from the front for defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup today.
She missed out on her century by just three runs but ensured that the game went in Australia’s favour.
Other batters who contributed handy runs were Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes and Beth Mooney.
Australia won the toss at Eden Park and asked India to bat first.
India tottered once again to Australia’s bowling attack as 19-year-old Darcie Brown took two early wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
Yastika Bhatia and Mithali Raj stepped up for India and showed no mercy on the Australian bowlers as they stitched a partnership of 130 runs for the third wicket.
After this solid foundation, it was time for India’s vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur to pile up even more runs for the team. Along with Pooja Vastrakar, she added 77 runs in the final ten.
Harmanpreet also scored a half-century in the process and remained unbeaten.
India piled up a massive total of 277/7 and Australia needed 278.
This was going to be a record run-chase for Australia Women.
Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes set the tone for the Aussies with their aggressive batting and took the team total to 121 without loss.
But, Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar stepped up on the occasion and delivered two blows by dismissing both the openers.
Australia were reeling at 123/2 and looked in a rough spot before skipper Lanning made a crucial 97.
Ellyse Perry and Lanning put together 103 run partnership for the third wicket.
India were without the services of Deepti Sharma in this match.
Lastly, it was Beth Mooney who struck two successive fours off Jhulan Goswami to power Australia to a win.
