Despite a valiant century by Smriti Mandhana, the Indian women's cricket team suffered another defeat at the hands of Australia in the third ODI on Wednesday. With this loss, India completed a 0-3 series sweep in their Australia tour. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the team's poor performances and expressed the need to learn from these games. She also praised the individual efforts of Arundhati Reddy and Smriti Mandhana but highlighted India's inability to finish the games after starting well with the bat.
Smriti Mandhana's Century Fails to Secure India a Win in Australia Sweep
In a disappointing end to their Australian tour, the Indian women's cricket team succumbed to a 0-3 series defeat, with the third ODI ending in another victory for Australia. Despite a valiant century by star batter Smriti Mandhana, India's hopes of a positive result were shattered.
Background
The Indian women's cricket team toured Australia in January 2023 for a multi-format series, which included three ODIs and three T20Is. The series was highly anticipated, with both teams eager to test their skills against a formidable opponent.
Third ODI
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the third ODI at Junction Oval in Melbourne. The hosts posted a challenging total of 338/5, led by opener Alyssa Healy's century (127). In reply, India got off to a solid start, with Mandhana scoring a brilliant 100 off 98 balls. However, the Indian middle order collapsed, and despite a fighting fifty from Arundhati Reddy, they were eventually bowled out for 284.
Captain's Comments
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her disappointment with the team's performance in the series, particularly their inability to finish games after starting well. She praised the individual efforts of Mandhana and Reddy but acknowledged that the team needed to learn from their mistakes. Kaur also highlighted the importance of mental toughness and the need to maintain focus throughout the innings.
Top 5 FAQs
Who is Smriti Mandhana? Smriti Mandhana is an Indian cricketer who plays as a left-handed opener for the Indian women's cricket team and Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League. She is considered one of the best batters in the world.
What was the score in the third ODI? Australia won by 54 runs (338/5 vs. 284).
Who won the series? Australia won the three-match ODI series 3-0.
What was Smriti Mandhana's record in the series? Mandhana scored 149 runs in three matches, with a century in the third ODI.
What are the future prospects for the Indian women's cricket team? The Indian women's cricket team will aim to improve their performance in upcoming matches and tournaments. They will next play the Women's T20 World Cup in February 2023.
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