Pitch & Weather
A typically dry Vizag surface with a hint of tackiness made it difficult for the Aussie batters before it got easier for the hosts under lights.
A warm and humid afternoon welcomed both sides to Visakhapatnam with temperatures around the 32-degree mark. There was a faint sea breeze, which was ideal for swing in the initial overs before spin took centre stage.
Toss & Conditions
Australia Women won the toss and elected to bat first.
Lineups
India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud.
Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt.
Match Report
India produced a composed run-chase to outplay Australia by four wickets in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Visakhapatnam. Contrasting half-centuries from Richa Ghosh and Pratika Rawal backed up pacer Kranti Gaud’s three-wicket haul at the ACA-VDCA Stadium as the home side put on a professional performance against the world champions.
Opting to bat, Alyssa Healy and Pheobe Litchfield began brightly for the Aussies, racing to 62 before Sneh Rana’s drift deceived the left-handed opener. Shortly, Healy (42) also joined her opening partner in the dressing room as Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney guided Australia through a tricky middle phase. Perry kept finding boundaries frequently, while Mooney complemented her well, finding the gaps and rotating strike admirably. Their partnership looked ominous until Deepti Sharma’s flight drew Mooney into a false shot, and the left-hander departed for 47 off 64 balls. Australia’s momentum was halted as the other set batter, Perry, also departed after hitting six fours and a six during her 67-ball 56. Though Ashleigh Gardner’s brief blaze threatened to run away with the game, Kranti Gaud’s precision at the death kept the total within reach, at 253/8. The pacer was the pick among the Indian bowlers with a spell of 3/42 in 10 overs, while the spin duo of Sneh and Deepti shared four wickets among them.
India’s chase began with poise as Smriti Mandhana (44) rediscovered her rhythm with crisp drives on both sides of the wicket as Pratika Rawal took her time to settle. However, the Delhi batter compensated for the earlier dot balls, once Mandhana departed, hitting seven fours and a six to notch up 61 off 77 balls. But the Women in Blue found themselves in a tricky situation with the middle order unravelling yet again. Pratika, Harleen Deol, and Jemimah Rodrigues all departed in quick succession, but Harmanpreet Kaur (22) and Richa Ghosh bailed India out with a crucial stand. The wicketkeeper-batter continued from where she left off in the last game, mixing power with placement to punish the loose deliveries. With the required rate touching seven, Ghosh launched a calculated assault on Kim Garth with consecutive fours, with Deepti playing second fiddle. Richa smashed seven fours and two sixes during her unbeaten knock of 58 from 46 balls as India reached 254/6 with eight balls to spare. The medium-pace combo of Garth and Annabel Sutherland picked up two wickets each for the visitors.
Player of the Match
Richa Ghosh was named Player of the Match for her match-winning for her unbeaten match-winning 58 and composure under pressure.
Scorecard