Yastika’s century in vain as Australia A pull off sensational 339-run chase against India A

Anika Learoyd
Anika Learoyd (PC: Cricket Australia)

Australia A Women won a high-scoring thriller in Mohali on Wednesday (September 23) as they chased down a mammoth target of 339 with two wickets in hand against India A Women. In the second unofficial ODI, the visitors pulled off a remarkable effort to keep themselves alive in the three-match series.

While chasing, Nicole Faltum was dismissed cheaply, but a counter-attacking 76-run partnership for the second wicket between skipper Tahlia Wilson and Anika Learoyd set the tone. Anika smashed 54 off 29 balls, striking at 186.20, to provide exactly the kind of start Australia A would have wanted while chasing such a massive target.

While Wilson continued to settle at one end, Charli Knott, batting at number four, also played an aggressive 63-run knock off 37 balls, striking at 170.27. India A’s spinners, who played a significant role in their win in the first unofficial ODI, were negotiated well by the Australians, especially Vaishnavi Sharma and Amandeep Kaur.

It seemed that the Australia A batters had come up with a more proactive approach to take on the spinners and put the pressure back on them, and it worked. Their figures clearly reflected that, with Vaishnavi finishing with 1/73 in 10 overs and Amandeep going wicketless for 71 runs in eight overs.

However, after a 92-run partnership between Wilson and Knott, India struck twice in quick succession, courtesy of Minnu Mani. Katie Mack could not make an impact, while set batter Wilson was also dismissed for 79 off 77 balls. With 120 runs still needed at that stage, it seemed that this could be the window the home side were looking for to stage a comeback.

But the visitors had other plans. Hayley Silver-Holmes played a supporting role, while Tess Flintoff added a crucial 38 off 43 balls. After a 65-run partnership between them, Flintoff was dismissed, but Hayley continued to anchor one end. At the other end, Lilly Mills came in and added 12 off 11 balls.

While Minnu Mani bagged three wickets and bowled economically, Niki Prasad was another spinner who managed to pick up two timely wickets. Still, it was not enough as Hayley’s 47 off 51 balls and a quickfire unbeaten 22 off 14 balls from Milly Illingworth sealed the chase for the visitors with three balls to spare.

Earlier, India A’s batters put on a great show with the bat, scoring 338/6 in 50 overs. Both openers, Tanisha Singh (37 off 49 balls) and Priya Punia (36 off 32), got starts but could not convert them into substantial scores.

However, skipper Yastika Bhatia led from the front with a brilliant century at number three, scoring 112 off 84 balls. However, her century ultimately went in vain. After two 50-plus partnerships for the first two wickets, it was the 124-run partnership for the third wicket that laid the platform for the home side, courtesy of Yastika and Tejal Hasabnis (60 off 66 balls).

Youngster Anushka Sharma scored a second consecutive fifty, remaining unbeaten on 60 off 46 balls and providing a flourishing finish to the innings. For Australia A, Darcie Brown starred with three wickets for 39 runs in eight overs.

The decider will now take place in Mohali on September 25.

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