Australia Clinch Series After Mooney, Mandhana Tons In 781-Run Thriller

Australia beat India by 43 runs in a breathtaking ODI at Delhi, sealing the series 2-1 on a day that produced 781 runs at over eight an over. Beth Mooney’s 138 from 75 balls lifted Australia to 412, their joint-highest total. Smriti Mandhana replied with a blazing 125 off 63, the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian across men’s and women’s cricket, but India were bowled out for 369. Deepti Sharma’s 72 kept the chase alive late, yet Australia’s habit of landing blows at the right time decided the game.

Mooney Sets The Tone, Australia Hit 412

Alyssa Healy chose to bat and asked India to “run around in the heat.” Australia’s batters did the rest. Georgia Voll attacked early and cashed in on three chances to score 81, with Ellyse Perry anchoring for 68. When Voll fell, Mooney arrived and never let the tempo drop. She used depth in the crease, opened angles, and ran hard between the wickets to hit a 57-ball hundred. Two key stands framed the innings: 106 with Perry and 82 with Ashleigh Gardner. Even a late collapse of 6 for 34 could not stop Australia reaching 412, the first 400-plus against India in women’s ODIs.

Mandhana Answers Back With Record Pace

India sprinted at the target from ball one. Mandhana hit Megan Schutt for three fours in an over, greeted Ashleigh Gardner with a six and a four, and took Kim Garth for two fours and a six in five balls. She reached fifty in 23 balls and a record 100 in just 50, bettering Virat Kohli’s 52-ball men’s mark. Harmanpreet Kaur matched the rhythm with a 32-ball fifty as the pair rattled 121 in only 69 balls. At 204 for 2 in 20 overs, the chase was alive and roaring.

The game turned in a brief stoppage when Harmanpreet needed treatment for a knee issue. On resumption, India lost Mandhana and Harmanpreet in back-to-back overs, and the chase stumbled. Australia kept rotating options, controlled the middle with smart fields, and forced India into horizontal-bat risks against pace-off and cross-seam.

Deepti’s Late Charge, But Too Much To Do

With Jemimah Rodrigues unavailable, Deepti batted at No. 5 and countered with her quickest ODI fifty-plus knock, a 58-ball 72. She swept, drove on the up, and picked gaps behind square to add 65 off 54 with Sneh Rana for the eighth wicket. The ask dipped to 59 off 46, but Deepti holed out to deep midwicket. From there, Australia closed it out with discipline at the death, mixing yorkers with wide lines, and protected a proud record of never losing a bilateral women’s ODI series in India.

Fielding Swings The Margins

India’s fielding cost runs and momentum. Voll was reprieved three times: a keeper misstep early, then two outfield errors. Across the day, India dropped multiple chances, and misfields turned ones into twos. Those 20–30 bonus runs matter in a 400 chase. Under Amol Muzumdar, India had improved markedly in England, but the lapses here arrived at costly moments and undercut a spirited chase.

What The Numbers Say

Australia 412 is their joint-highest in women’s ODIs and the first 400-plus against India.
Mandhana’s 50-ball hundred is the fastest ODI ton by any Indian (men or women).
India’s 369 is the highest total in a chase in women’s ODIs.
Mooney’s 138 is now the best by an Australian against India in women’s ODIs.
The match aggregate of 781 ranks among the highest in the women’s ODI format.

How Australia Closed The Series

Australia’s batting depth and fielding efficiency separated the sides. Healy’s intent up top, Voll’s fearless hitting, Perry’s stability, and Mooney’s controlled acceleration shaped a near-perfect template for subcontinental conditions. With the ball, Australia accepted that boundaries would come but kept hitting hard lengths and slower variations, especially after Mandhana and Harmanpreet fell, to squeeze India’s next phase.

India’s Positives And Fixes Before The World Cup

India leave with two takeaways. First, the batting firepower is real: Mandhana in peak flow, Harmanpreet’s tempo control, and Deepti’s late-hitting range. Second, fielding must lift, and bowling plans need tighter execution once set batters are in. Wristspin remains a weapon, but pace-off and powerplay control will decide tight games on flat decks. With the World Cup days away in similar conditions, converting half-chances and owning the last 10 overs with the ball are urgent priorities.

Player Spotlight

Beth Mooney: Found every angle, ran brilliantly, and batted risk-low, rate-high — a masterclass.
Smriti Mandhana: Redefined India’s ODI speed ceiling; front-foot, back-foot, and aerial range all firing.
Ellyse Perry: The calming partner who enables others to hit around her.
Deepti Sharma: Showed finishing layers that India can bank on in tournament crunch.

What This Means For The World Cup

Australia affirmed their title credentials: adaptable, deep, and ruthless in moments that matter. India proved they can match scoring pace with anyone, but must sharpen fielding and phase discipline. If the catching sticks and the middle-overs plans tighten, the same batting that rattled 369 can carry them deep into the tournament.

“There’s no ceiling for this group.” — Beth Mooney

“We take the positives, fix our fielding, and move forward.” — India camp sentiment

Match Summary

Australia 412 all out in 47.5 overs (Beth Mooney 138, Georgia Voll 81, Ellyse Perry 68)
India 369 all out (Smriti Mandhana 125 off 63, Deepti Sharma 72 off 58, Harmanpreet Kaur 52 off 35)

Result: Australia won by 43 runs; series 2–1 to Australia

Innings	Team	Score	Overs	Top Scorers	Best Bowlers
1st Innings	Australia Women	412 all out	47.5	Beth Mooney 138, Georgia Voll 81, Ellyse Perry 68	Shabnam Shakil Reddy 3/86
2nd Innings	India Women	369 all out		Smriti Mandhana 125 (63), Deepti Sharma 72 (58), Harmanpreet Kaur 52 (35)	Kim Garth 3/69

The Cricket Standard