Australia chase down India's 282-run target in 44.1 overs
Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland hit sparkling fifties
Indian middle order fails to get going
A lacklustre Indian women's cricket team dropped four catches as fine half-centuries from Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland guided Australia to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in the first ODI in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) on Sunday (September 14, 2025). Batting first, India posted 281 for seven, and Australia easily completed the chase in 44.1 overs.
Litchfield (88 off 80 balls) was dropped twice while Mooney (77 not out off 74) and Ellyse Perry (30 retired hurt) received a lifeline each, as the Australians took a 1-0 lead in the three-match affair, which precedes the upcoming Women's ODI World Cup.
During their stay in the middle, Mooney and Sutherland (54 not out off 51) added 116 runs for the third wicket. Mooney, who was dropped by Deepti Sharma on 56, struck nine fours in her knock while Sutherland had six hits to the fence.
India had done fairly well in the first half of the game to set the visitors a 282-run target, putting their money on their spin battery but when chances were produced, the fielders came up short.
Litchfield made the most of two lifelines to make 88 runs with 14 fours which was laced with spectacular shots across the ground as she set the platform for Australia's successful run chase. But Litchfield had the Indians to thank for that since she received a lifeline as early as in the second over when Jemimah Rodrigues spilled a sitter at mid-wicket off Sneh Rana when the Australian was yet to open her account.
In the 19th over, Litchfield got another lifeline on 56 when India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur dropped another easy chance at cover off Radha Yadav. In between, Perry got a reprieve when Pratika Rawal, coming in from deep midwicket, could not hold on to a skier, which was hit high off a full toss from Radha, in the 17th over.
Earlier, half-centuries by Pratika Rawal (64), Smriti Mandhana (58) and Harleen Deol (54) lifted India to a competitive total. India were served well by their top order batters with each of them hitting their stride to make significant contributions, even as the middle order players did not get going.
India Vs Australia, 1st Women's ODI Toss Update
India women won the toss and elected to bat first.
India Vs Australia Playing XIs
India Women: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud
Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt
Full Squads:
India Women Squad: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Uma Chetry, Sayali Satghare
Australia Women Squad: Alyssa Healy(c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney(w), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Georgia Voll, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Nicole Faltum, Charli Knott
India Vs Australia, Women's ODI Series Live Streaming
The India Women vs Australia Women, ODI series will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. The television broadcast of the matches will take place on the Star Sports Network channels in the country.
