An superior show of hitting through Ash Gardner and Grace Harris secured Australia a 4-1 sequence win within the T20 world sequence in India. The duo smashed 129 in 10.2 overs in an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership in Mumbai, offering the platform for an outstanding 54-run win.
Their exploits even overshadowed a hat-trick through Heather Graham, regardless that that was once additionally as a result of six overs had been bowled between the second one and 3rd dismissals. Australia, put into bat, racked up 196-4 off their 20 overs. In answer India may just simplest muster 142, being all out off the general ball.
“I beloved looking at Ash and Grace as of late. We satisfaction ourselves on fearless cricket, love to take the sport on and keep forward,” said Australia’s stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath.
As in the fourth match Gardner was the all-round star also taking 2-20 and two catches.
“I believe it is more uncomplicated batting with anyone like Grace, who has the ability sport to again up the chat,” said Gardner, adding: “I’m simply playing my cricket greater than anything, reaping the advantages at the box.”
Gardner cracked 66 off 32 balls with 11 fours and a six while Harris bludgeoned 64 off 35 with six fours and fours sixes, her highest T20I score.
Their onslaught put the game beyond an Indian team who lost world ranked No 3 batter Smriti Mandhana for four in the first over after which wickets tumbled regularly. Harleen Deol (24 off 16 balls) got going but she was run out by McGrath.
Belated resistance came from Deepti Sharma, who snacked 53 off 34 balls before being last out, fittingly caught on the ropes by Gardner off Graham.
That gave Graham remarkable figures of four wickets for eight runs off two overs including a hat-trick taken off the last two balls of the 12th over and the first of the 19th.
“Not positive how [hat-trick] took place,” she admitted. “I truly did not know it was once the hat-trick ball.”
Australian captain Alyssa Healy had strained her calf while batting in the fourth match so McGrath took the reins, Beth Mooney the gloves, and Phoebe Litchfield stepped in as opener. Australia also made a change in their bowling attack with Kim Garth replacing Megan Schutt.
Litchfield, playing in her second international but making her batting debut, began well, straight-driving her second ball to the boundary. She then gained a fortunate six as an attempted run-out as she ran two produced four overthrows.
However, off her ninth ball she was stumped for 11 as she sought to attack Sharma. That left Australia 17-2 midway through the third over as Mooney was already back in the hutch after chopping on fourth ball for two.
By the end of the fifth over, with Australia 24–2, McGrath knew it was time to lead by example. Hitting sixes over extra cover and long-on the No 1 women’s T20 batter took 17 off the sixth over, plus a wide.
However, with McGrath stumped for a run-a-ball 26 and the in-form Ellyse Perry caught at long-on for 18 off 14 Australia reached the mid-point at 72-4.
Gardner and Harris steadied issues, then reduce free with Gardner hitting 4 successive fours and Harris 3 sixes in seven balls. They stored that tempo up hitting no less than two barriers off each and every of the ultimate 8 overs as India wilted to the level two extra units of 4 overthrows had been conceded. Between them that they had overwhelmed India’s spirit and set Australia not off course for victory.