Mithali ton helps India A take 2-0 lead

Press Trust of India  |  Mumbai 

Riding on Mithali Raj's record-setting, unbeaten hundred, India A defeated their Australian counterparts by 28 runs to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series on Wednesday.

The victory meant that the third and final match, also to be played at the Mumbai Association's Bandra-Kurla facility will be of academic interest only.

Veteran Mithali, who opened the innings along with Smriti Mandhana, was the cynosure of eyes as she tormented the Aussie bowlers in her whirlwind 105-run unbeaten knock which came off just 61 balls.

On her way, the right-handed batswoman recorded the highest score by an Indian woman in T20 surpassing 102 earlier set by Smriti.

While she completed her fifty in 31 balls, she notched her hundred in just 59 balls.

Mithali's knock ensured that the hosts piled up a massive 184 for 5 in their alloted 20 overs.

And later the Indian bowlers restricted the visitors to 156 for 9, ensuring the team's win.

Smriti (1), Jemimah Rodrigues (5), D Hemalatha (2) and Anuja Patil (0) fell cheaply, but that did not deter Mithali, who struck 18 boundaries and a six in her entertaining innings.

Mithali, one of the best batters in women's in the world, stamped her class and also tuned up well for the World T20, which commences in the next month.

(57 off 33 balls) ably supported Mithali as the two stitched a stand of 85 and ensured that the hosts went past the 175-run mark. Kaur's knock was laced with six fours and three sixs.

The Aussies were never in the hunt in the chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Opener Tahila McGrath (47) showed some resistance but without support of partners as the Indian bowlers ticked all the boxes.

Off-spinner Deepti Sharma (2-32), Poonam Yadav (2-29) and Anuja Patil (2-31) led the wicket hunt while Radha Yadav, and Harmanpreet Kaur grabbed a wicket each.

Brief Scores: India A 184/5 (105 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 57, Tahila McGrath 2-36) beat Australia A 156/9 (Tahila McGrath 47, 24, Poonam Yadav 2-29) by 28 runs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, October 24 2018. 16:30 IST