The India Women vs Australia Women ODI encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadiumin New Chandigarh lived up to the hype — Australia Women cruised to an 8-wicket victory, chasing down a challenging target with ease on 14 September 2025. It was a display of clinical batting, smart partnerships, and disciplined bowling — the hallmark of a top-class side in a big game.
Match Snapshot: Key Stats & Highlights
Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Result | Australia Women won by 8 wickets |
| India Women’s Total | 281‑7 in 50 overs |
| Australia’s Chase | 282‑2 in 44.1 overs |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| Top Performers | Phoebe Litchfield (88 off 80), Beth Mooney (77* off 74), Annabel Sutherland (54* off 51) with the bat; Megan Schutt (2/45) with the ball |
| Date | September 14, 2025 |
| Series | Australia Women tour of India 2025-26 |
First Innings: India Posts a Competitive Total
India Women elected to bat first and set a competitive 281 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs.
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The innings was anchored by Pratika Rawal’s steady 64 off 96 balls, supported by Smriti Mandhana’s elegant 58 off 63.
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Harleen Deol played an aggressive cameo of 54 off 60 balls, adding crucial momentum in the middle overs.
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Megan Schutt was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, taking 2 wickets for 45 runs, keeping India’s scoring in check.
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Despite some tight bowling, India struggled to accelerate consistently in the death overs, finishing with a total that looked challenging but chaseable.
Second Innings: Australia’s Clinical Chase
Australia Women started their chase confidently, guided by a masterclass from Phoebe Litchfield.
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Litchfield’s fluent 88 off 80 balls, packed with 14 boundaries, set a strong platform alongside Alyssa Healy (27 off 23).
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After Litchfield’s dismissal, Beth Mooney (77* off 74) and Annabel Sutherland (54* off 51) forged a commanding unbroken 154-run partnership.
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Their calm and assured approach ensured Australia crossed the finish line comfortably with 35 balls to spare, finishing at 282 for 2.
Player Highlights: Who Stood Out
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Phoebe Litchfield (Australia) — Player of the Match — Her composed yet aggressive innings was the backbone of the chase.
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Beth Mooney & Annabel Sutherland (Australia) — Their partnership ensured the game was wrapped up without fuss.
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Pratika Rawal & Harleen Deol (India) — Provided solid resistance and momentum during India’s innings.
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Megan Schutt (Australia) — Effective with the ball, applying pressure at key moments.
Match Flow: Key Phases & Turning Points
Phase | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (India Batting) | Rawal and Mandhana built a solid 114-run opening partnership. |
| Middle Overs (India Batting) | Deol’s aggressive 54 helped India reach a competitive total. |
| Powerplay (Australia Batting) | Litchfield and Healy set the tone with a brisk start. |
| Middle Overs (Australia Batting) | Mooney and Sutherland’s 154-run partnership sealed the chase. |
| Closing Phase | Australia comfortably finished the chase with wickets in hand. |
Strategic Insights: What Worked & What Didn’t
What Worked for Australia:
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Strong top-order batting that negated early pressure.
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Patience and composure from Mooney and Sutherland during the chase.
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Tight bowling led by Schutt, keeping India from posting an even bigger total.
What Didn’t Go Well for India:
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Missed opportunities in fielding, including dropped chances.
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Inability to maintain momentum in the death overs.
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Bowling lacked penetration at crucial stages, allowing Australia to build partnerships.
What This Win Means Going Forward
For Australia:
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A confident start to the series boosts morale ahead of the rest of the tour and upcoming tournaments.
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The batting depth and bowling discipline highlight their credentials as favorites.
For India:
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The defeat underscores the need to sharpen fielding and bowling, especially under pressure.
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Building longer partnerships will be crucial to challenge top teams moving forward.
Coach’s View & Media Reactions
The Australian camp praised the clinical nature of the chase and the balanced bowling effort, highlighting Litchfield’s maturity under pressure.
India’s coaching staff acknowledged the good start but emphasized learning from lapses in the field and death bowling to improve in upcoming matches.
Media noted Australia’s superior execution and India’s fightback spirit but agreed the visitors held the upper hand throughout.
Final Thoughts
Australia’s 8-wicket win over India Women in the first ODI was a masterclass in chasing and game management. The blend of aggressive stroke play and smart partnerships underpinned a dominant performance. India showed glimpses of resilience but will need to fine-tune their execution if they are to challenge the world’s best consistently. This match set the tone for an exciting series ahead.
