LIVE: India lose two after strong start in CWC25 clash
Defending champions and undefeated so far at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, Australia lock horns with hosts India in Visakhapatnam.
Australia claimed the important wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal after the openers had got India off to a brilliant start in their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 clash.
Sophie Molineux provided Australia with the first breakthrough, dismissing Smriti Mandhana and ending a commanding 100-run opening stand for the first wicket before Annabel Sutherland removed Rawal. Mandhana departed after a blistering 80 off 66 balls, an innings laced with nine boundaries and six sixes while Rawal played a composed knock of 75 that included 10 fours.
Openers Mandhana and Pratika Rawal provided India with a solid start, stitching together a crucial 150-run stand. Mandhana and Rawal struck impressive fifties to give India a flying start, putting together the highest opening partnership against Australia by any side in the tournament.
Both batters notched up their first half centuries of the tournament with Mandhana also achieving a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest and fastest to reach 5000 ODI runs. Harleen Deol, coming in at No 3, also reached a personal milestone by completing 1000 ODI runs.
Mandhana brings up 5000 ODI runs in style | CWC25
Smriti Mandhana becomes the youngest and the fastest to 5000 runs in Women's ODIs with a mammoth six against Australia in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
Earlier, Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and elected to bowl first at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium.
With both teams having played three games apiece, Australia have won two and have a no-result to their name, while hosts India have two wins and a loss to their name. The teams are currently placed second and third respectively in the standings, just below England who topped the tally with their third successive win of the tournament over Sri Lanka the other night.
Australia win the toss against India | CWC25
Australia captain Alyssa Healy calls it right at the toss and elects to field first against India at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
Australia kickstarted their campaign with a hefty win over the Trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand. While their next encounter against Sri Lanka was a washout, the Alyssa Healy-led side notched another big win against Pakistan in their third outing.
India on the other hand, enjoyed successive wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan to begin their tournament. However, their unbeaten run would come to an end against the Proteas, who pulled a miraculous win in Visakhapatnam.
A mouth-watering clash between India and Australia awaits | Will To Win Preview Show | CWC25
Sanjana Ganesan previews the exciting ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash between India and Australia.
SQUADS:
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud. Reserves: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare
