India Women vs Australia Women HIGHLIGHTS, 5th T20: AUS wins by 54 runs, IND loses series 4-1; Heather Graham bags hat-trick

“It’s always a great battle with India. Ash (Gardener) and Grace (Harris) put out a real clinic today, it was fun to watch. We pride ourselves for our fearless cricket. India came hard, they threw a lot at us. Enjoyed the grounds, we always get looked after very well here.”

“I’m just enjoying my cricket, and reaping the benefits on the field. It’s really batting with someone like Grace, takes the pressure off me. She is the bigger hitter, she talks a lot but she backs that up. I think it depends on the day, some days I’m more of a bowler, sometime I’m more of a batter. Days like today you end up doing both. Range hitting is fantastic sometimes, but I try not to do it too much because I end up losing my shape sometimes.”

We’ve been really good for the first 10-12 overs. But after that we haven’t been able to bowl the way we wanted because of the power they have. We knew the challenges we would have with Australia coming over, lots to improve and some good learnings. In the beginning, we were easily losing but now whoever goes out we are confident of winning. That self belief has been really important. We now have one month off, time to rest and regroup. The next challenge will be to focus on power hitting.

“Not sure how that happened (hat-trick). The bowlers got us off to a really good start. The way Ash and Grace batted was phenomenal, and we were able to carry through that momentum. I think the way the wicket played while we were batting, there was a bit of turn, and I was just looking to use my slower balls well. Pretty fortunate I was able to reap the rewards of all the other bowlers tonight. I really didn’t realise it was the hat-trick ball. I don’t bowl too many off-pace bowls, thought let’s just bowl pace and see what happens here. This series win is massive leading into the World Cup. The fact that we’ve had two captains here has been amazing. For us to come in and continue the dominating performance has been a massive plus for us. It gives us good momentum with the Pakistan series and going into the World Cup.”

After its thilling Super Over win to square the series 1-1, India would have hoped of a better finish for the series. However, Australia stepped up its game by several notches and its batting firepower eventually became a touch too much for India to match up with. As the T20 World Cup moves in quickly, India has several points to work on, especially on its bowling attack and middle-order batters.

• 105 v South Africa, 2019
• 85 v Australia, 2020
• 63 v Australia, 2012
• 54* v Australia, Today*
• 52 v New Zealand, 2009

Heather Graham on a hat-trick. Heather to Renuka, OUT! HAT-TRICK FOR HEATHER! Skids the ball gently across the line and the ball slides in to hit the leg-stump. She is the second Australian to pick up a T20I hat-trick after Megan Schutt. Rajeshwari Gayakwad in at 11. A single to follow after two dots. Second T20I fifty for Deepti Sharma as she sweeps Heather for a FOUR behind square. Heather to Deepti, OUT! Leading-edge to cover and India is bundled for 142 off the last ball.

Australia wins by 54 runs and wraps up the series by a 4-1 margim.

Renuka Singh b Graham 2 (3b); Deepti Sharma c Gardner b Graham 53 (34b 8x4 1x6)

Deepti slides the first ball down to fine-leg for one run off McGrath. McGrath to Sarvani, OUT! Sarvani swipes the ball across the line and the ball lobs straight to Ash Gardner at deep mid-wicket. Renuka Thakur in at 10. Off the mark with a single to deep cover. Slower-ball on the full and Deepti plays it down the ground for one run. A single to follow and Deepti finishes the over with a FOUR to deep mid-wicket.

Anjali Sarvani c Gardner b McGrath 4 (12b)

Gardner skims through her over. Three straight dots for Sarvani before a single. Deepti retains strike with a single.

Short ball from KIng. Deepti pulls it across the line off one knee for FOUR. King tosses the ball outside the off-stump and Deepti steps out and heaves it across the line for FOUR more. Another loosener and Deepti sweeps it once again through wide long-on for FOUR. King strays to the pads and Deepti flicks it fine for one run. Sarvani chips the next ball over mid-wicket for a single. Low full-toss, Deepti steps out and works it through mid-wicket and Heather Graham attempts to keep the ball in play but is in contact with the boundary as she gathers the ball. FOUR more.

Brown to bowl out. She offers length and Deepti pumps it over deep mid-wicket for SIX. A wide ball from Brown as she rolls one over Deepti to the keeper. Another wide delivery down the leg-side. Deepti gets a single. Brown sends in a cracking yorker but Sarvani manages to fend it off.

Sarvani and Deepti find three singles as King replaces Heather. Full toss from King and Deepti steps out to slap it through mid-wicket for FOUR. 100 up for India as Deepti retains strike with a single.

Gardner slides the ball down the leg and Deepti paddles the ball for FOUR. Just the boundary from the over as Australia moves towards a big win.

Heather Graham into the attack. Short ball and Devika pulls it to the deep and the ball falls just short of the square-leg fielder. Graham to Devika, OUT! Beaten and stumped. Excellent knuckle-ball from Heather across the line, luring Devika to step out of her crease. She misreads the line and presents a simple chance for Beth Mooney behind the stumps. Radha Yadav in at 8. Graham to Radha, OUT! Gone first-ball. The ball skids on straight from the length and zips past Radha’s bat to hit the off-stump.

Devika Vaidya st †Mooney b Graham 11 (14b 1x4); Radha Yadav b Graham 0 (1b)

Garth returns. Devika slaps a short-ball behind point for one run. A single to follow. Back of a length from Garth and Devika bisects point and deep backward point for FOUR.

King slides the ball in. Devika sweeps the ball to deep mid-wicket for one run. Deepti and Devika only manage to find a slew of singles. Five from the over.

Gardner to Richa, OUT! An excellent catch from Heather Graham at the deep mid-wicket fence. Short ball meant for a pull and Richa swings at it. She fails to power to it well over the fielder as Graham times her jump to perfection to seal an overhead catch. Devika Vaidya in at 7. Gardner comes around the wicket and pins Devika to the crease.

Richa Ghosh c Graham b Gardner 10 (9b 2x4)

Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpeet Kaur, OUT! Plumb in front of the wickets and Sutherland strikes with her first ball. Slants the ball in on length and Harmanpreet is stranded on the crease. Deepti Sharma in at 6. She is off the mark with a single. Sutherland oversteps and concedes a free hit for Richa. Short ball and Richa pulls it behind square for FOUR. Length ball outside the off-stump. Richa charges down and smacks the ball over mid-off for FOUR more.

Harmanpreet Kaur lbw b Sutherland 12 (11b 1x4)

Tahlia McGrath replaces Brown. Width outside the off-stump and Harmanpreet guides the ball past backward point for FOUR. McGrath stays to the pads and Harmanpreet flicks the ball fine for two runs. Harmanpreet drives the ball towards mid-off and fumbles midway before completing a single.

Alana King into the attack. King starts with a short ball. Harmanpreet rocks back and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Harleen makes room to tap through cover. She sets off on a quick single but is sent back quickly. A good through from McGrath and OUT! Harleen is short of her crease. A sad, sad way to go after having played in so well. Richa Ghosh in at 5.

Harleen Deol run out (McGrath/†Mooney) 24 (16b 4x4 1x6)

Brown starts with a wide. Brown darts in an inch-perfect yorker and Harmanpreet does well to bring the bat down in time to dig it out. Length ball and an excellent pick-up flick from Harleen for FOUR through square-leg. Exquisite from Harleen. She shuffles across the line and nonchalantly flicks Brown over the square-leg fielder for FOUR.

Ash Gardner into the attack. Slides the ball in from length. Harleen pushes the ball to long-on for one run. Harris toShafali, OUT! Straight up and taken at long-off. In the slot and there to be hit but Shafali mistimes the slog altogether. India is in huge trouble as Harmanpreet Kaur walks in at 4. She is off the mark with a single. Harleen attempts to sweep but the ball shoot sup off the length. Fuller ball and Harleen sweeps the ball fine this time past square for FOUR. Length from Gardner and Harleen pounces on it and smacks it over long-on for SIX!

Shafali Verma c Sutherland b Gardner 13 (14b 2x4)

Garth beats Shafali’s blade once again with a length ball that shapes away from the batter. Fuller this time and Shafali drives it down the ground for one run. A rash hoick across the line and Shafali gets a thick outside-edge past the keeper for FOUR.

Fuller delivery swinging away and Shafali digs it out to point. Leading edge from Shafali and Harris DROPS a catch while running back from point. She trips on one of the side-strips as the ball hits the grass. Excellent change-up from Brown on length to force Shafali into two minds while flicking across the line. Brown forces in a quick short ball and Harleen ducks it out of it.

Kim Garth from the opposite end. A fine start as she needles past Shafali’s outside-edge with a hint of movement off the deck. A wide to follow. Shorter delivery and Shafali slashes the ball to the point fielder. Inward movement this time and Shafali guides the ball to short-third. Slower-ball on length and Shafali pulls the ball through wide long-on for FOUR.

Darcie Brown takes the new ball, Mandhana is on strike. Short ball first-up and Mandhana easily pulls the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR. Better length this time and Mandhana pushes the ball to cover. Brown to Mandhana, OUT! Straight to square-leg. Brown angles this one into the pads and Mandhana checks her pull and hands it straight to Harris who can do no wrong. Mandhana is in disbelief as she struts back. Harleen Deol walks in at 3. Fuller delivery, shaping away and Harlee moves into a classical square-drive for FOUR.

Smriti Mandhana c Harris b Brown 4 (4b 1x4)

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana walk out to open India’s record 197-run chase.

• 196/4, TODAY* - Brabourne
• 188/3, Dec 17, 2022 - DY Patil
• 187/1, Dec 11, 2022 - DY Patil
• 186/5, 2018 - Brabourne
• 184/4, 2020 - Melbourne

Renuka to bowl the last over. Pins in a yorker and Gardner slides it to square-leg for one run. Harris attempts a reverse-scoop but gets a bottom-edge for another single. A couple of length deliveries and Gardner thumps it through wide long-on and straight for two FOURS. Renuka follows up with a yorker and Gardner gets a single to cover. A single to finish and Australia finishes on 196/4 in 20 overs - a cracking 129* run partnership between Harris and Gardner!

Deepti slides the ball in and Gardner sweeps it fine past square-leg for FOUR. A single to follow. Harris chips a slower-ball back to Deepti who sends in a rash throw back to the keeper. The ball beats Richa and zips away for another FOUR overthrows. This is just shoddy from the Indians. Skipper Harmanpreet is not pleased one bit. Harris rubs more salt into the wounds as she drills Deepti down the ground for another FOUR.

Slower-ball from Renuka. It deceives the batter and Richa Ghosh and races away for FOUR byes! Slow full-toss and Harris wallops it over deep mid-wicket for a FIFTY off 28 balls! A single to follow down to long-on. Gardner advances and drags a length ball past wide long-on for FOUR and brings up her FIFTY as well - 100 run partnership between the pair in just 48 balls!

Straighter ball from Devika and Harris heaves across the line. The ball flies just past the mid-wicket fielder and steams to the boundary for FOUR. Harris attempts another hack across the line and an excellent dive from the deep mid-wicket fielder denies a boundary. In the slot yet again and Gardner slow-sweeps the ball for FOUR through square-leg.

Short ball from Devika and Harris drags it through mid-wicket for another FOUR. A single for Harris. Devika shorts again and Gardner swivels to pull the ball through square-leg for FOUR. Poor from Devika. Another length ball and Gardner charges the ball and pumps it over long-on for SIX!

Radha Yadav into the atack. Gardner mistimes a pull off a short ball and it falls safely behind square-leg. Radha offers length and Hammer advances and lofts the ball way down the ground for SIX. In the slot and Harris unleashes another slog-sweep for SIX over deep mid-wicket. Geez, that’s some timing!

Gayakwad strays to the pads and Harris easily sweeps it fine for FOUR. In the slot and Harris brings out the slog-sweep to muscle the ball over deep mid-wicket for SIX. A couple of singles to follow. 12 from the over.

Sarvani returns. Sarvani sends in a slower-ball in the slot and Gardner hammers it through extra cover for FOUR. Short from Sarvani but Gardner easily pulls it away through square for FOUR more. Three in a row. Sarvani overpitches and Gardner easily puts it away through the off-side for another FOUR. Cover falls back to the deep. Another fuller delivery and Gardner drives through extra cover. Gayakwad gives chase but fails to keep the ball in play and there goes another FOUR! 19 runs from the over.

Devika mixes up her lengths as Harris and Gardner negotiate in singles. Slower-ball into the blockhole and Gardner drives the ball back to the bowler. Just the three runs from the over.

Shafali returns. Low full-toss and Harris drills the ball through mid-off for FOUR. Shafali tightens her lines and sends in a slew of sliders, forcing Harris to play late from the crease. A single to follow. Shafali slides the ball in towards the pads and Gardner drags the ball through wide long-on for FOUR.

Devika Vaidya replaces Shafali. Devika to Perry, OUT! Straight to long-on. A jittery catch from Harleen as she juggles a couple of times before pouching a straightforward catch. Perry steps out to a length ball and attempts to slog over the field but hits the ball with the bottom-half of the bat. Grace Harris in at 6. She is off the mark with a thick outside-edge that races away down to third for FOUR.

Ellyse Perry c Deol b Vaidya 18 (14b 2x4)

Rajeshwari goes short and down leg and Perry swivels to pull the ball behind square for FOUR. Rajeshwari corrects her line and attacks the stumps. A couple of singles to follow. She finishes the over with a corker, beating Perry’s outside-edge by a whisker with a fuller ball that turns sharply away from the batter.

Shafali Verma replaces Deepti. FIFTY up for Australia with a couple of singles. Wide half-tracker from Shafali and McGrath pummels the ball through cover for FOUR. Shafali to McGrath, OUT! Through the gates and easy stumping for Richa Ghosh. Sends in a straighter ball down the line and McGrath completely misreads the ball. Huge wicket for India as Ash Gardner walks in at 5.

Tahlia McGrath st †Ghosh b Shafali Verma 26 (26b 2x4 2x6)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the attack. Rajeshwari to McGrath, DROPPED! Length ball outside the off-stump and McGrath gets a thick outside-edge onto Richa’s gloves. The ball goes in and out in a flash and Rajeshwari is not pleased. Fuller ball, Perry pushes it to point and sets off on a quick single. Quick pick-up and throw from Deepti Sharma but the ball steams past the bowler and the deep mid-wicket fielder for another FOUR overthrows! India is slowly giving its well-paced start.

Deepti tosses one outside the off-stump and McGrath steps out and crunches the ball through cover for FOUR. In the slot and McGrath shimmies down the track and lofts it elegantly over long-off for SIX. Deepti keeps it wide outside the off-stump but McGrath waits for the room and pumps it over long-on for SIX. Excellent finish for Australia in the PP with 18 runs coming off this over.

Change of ends for Sarvani. McGrath attempts to make room to drive through the off-side but Sarvani follows her with an inswinging delivery high onto the pads. Straighter this time and McGrath offers a block back to the bowler. Sarvani strays to the pads and McGrath flicks it through square for one run. Fuller from Sarvani and Perry drives the ball to the mid-on fielder. Slower-ball on length and Sarvani gets it to swerve in to beat Perry’s blade and hit the back-pad. She appeals but the umpire reckons it’s a touch too high for an lbw.

Deepti Sharma replaces Sarvani. Starts with a short ball outside the off-stump and Litchfield pushes it towards cover. Beauty! Deepti tosses it up high and whiffs the ball past Litchfield’s blade. Deepti to Litchfield, OUT! A cracking off-spin delivery from Deepti. Wafts the ball in nicely on length and invites Litchfield to step out of her crease. She misreads the length altogether and the ball presents an easy stumping for Richa Ghosh. In comes the in-form Ellyse Perry at 4. Deepti fends short and Perry rocks to the backfoot and punches the ball through cover first ball for FOUR.

Phoebe Litchfield st †Ghosh b Sharma 11 (9b 1x4)

Renuka angles her length ball towards the off-stump. McGrath opens the face of the bat and guides it to point, no run. Close! McGrath attempts to dive through cover and Renuka finds some late inswing to find the inside-edge. Renuka angles the ball in once again and McGrath moves her front-foot across the line and attempts to flick but finds short mid-wicket. Width from Renuka but McGrath once again finds the fielder at point. Renuka continues to build the pressure. Another delivery is seaming in off the surface, hight onto McGrath’s pads. Four dots. Maiden over from Renuka.

Anjali Sarvani into the attack. Sarvani to Mooney, OUT! Mooney drags the ball onto the stumps first ball! Mooney charges first-up to a fuller-ball outside the off-stump and gets an inside-edge that deflects the ball to the stumps. Big wicket for India as Tahlia McGrath walks in at 3. Good first ball to the Australia skipper from Sarvani as she sends in a dipper low onto the pads. McGrath gets off the mark with a flick through mid-wicket for one run. Fuller from Sarvani and Litchfield drives it to deep cover. Harleen gathers the ball and hurls it towards the keeper but Richa overruns and concedes FOUR overthrows! Sarvani errs and concedes successive wides but finishes up with two dots.

Beth Mooney b Anjali Sarvani 2 (4b)

Renuka Thakur takes the new ball. Mooney on strike. Renuka starts with a wide ball down leg. Beaten! Excellent comeback from Renuka. Angles the ball onto length and gently shapes it away past Mooney’s outside-edge. A hint of room and Mooney taps the ball towards short third for a single. Litchfield off the mark straightaway with a gentle push to mid-on for one run. Richa Ghosh stands up to the stumps. Renuka hits the deck and seams the ball into Mooney who guides it through cover for another single. Renuka overpitches and Litchfield eases into a beautiful drive down the ground for FOUR.

Harmanpreet’s team takes the field as Australia openers Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield walk out to the middle.

India XI: Shafali Varma, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Devika Vaidya, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh

IN: Rajeshwari Gayakwad, OUT: Jemimah Rodrigues

Australia: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Heather Graham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown

IN: Kim Garth, Phoebe Litchfield, OUT: Megan Schutt, Alyssa Healy

TOSS: India wins toss, opts to bowl

Wicketkeepers: Richa Ghosh

Batters: Grace Harris (vc), Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana (c), Tahlia McGrath, Shafali Verma

All-rounders: Deepti Sharma, Ellyse Perry

Bowlers: Renuka Singh Thakur, Darcie Brown, Alana King

Team Composition: IND-W 6:5 AUS-W Credits Left: 8.5

India has already lost the five-match women’s T20I series against Australia after suffering a seven-run defeat last Saturday. But as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side gears up for the fifth and final fixture at the Brabourne Stadium on Tuesday, it will be hoping to learn from its mistakes.

So far in the series, the home has been unable to seize the crucial moments and that will be something that the Women in Blue need to be careful about. In the shortest format of the game, finishing a game in crunch times is the key, and barring the second game that ended in a thrilling Super Over win, India has failed to do so despite coming closer to the finishing line a couple of times.

And given the fact that the team will travel to South Africa for a tri-series, followed by the T20 World Cup in February, India desperately needs to improve on its shoddy fielding, work on the lack of firepower and also address its high dot ball ratio - three factors that cost it dearly in the ongoing series.

While there’s no denying the fact that high-scoring wickets - both at the DY Patil Stadium and the Brabourne Stadium - have made the task difficult for the bowlers, captain Harmanpreet has time and again insisted that “all those things cannot be an excuse…”

With Jhulan Goswami retired and Shikha Pandey no longer considered for selection, Renuka Singh - the team’s pace ace over the last six months - and rookie left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani have only delivered in patches, and that often led to India losing control of games despite claiming early breakthroughs. Going forward, the team management needs to work on the pace department to ensure that it does not struggle after a steady start. At a time when the pacers have been inconsistent, Deepti Sharma has been the only spinner to have taken five wickets in the series so far, providing breakthroughs at crucial junctures.

There are concerns with batting as well. While Shafali Verma has had her moments, Smriti Mandhana failed to fire barring that one innings in the second T20I and with the openers unable to provide a steady start, the middle-order has been under pressure and the fact that Jemimah Rodrigues has struggled in the last four innings has only made matters worse. With not much time left for the selectors to finalise the squad for the T20 World Cup, the Bandra girl would be playing to save her place in the eleven.

Among the few silver linings, this series has given India a much-needed finisher in the young Richa Ghosh, but in a bid to ensure that she relies on her power-hitting more freely, captain Harmanpreet needs to support the middle-order a bit more. So far in the series, Harmanpreet has found runs, but in crunch games, failed to show resilience, and with a packed schedule ahead, she needs to ensure that she plays the sheet-anchor role, taking the game deep and then pulling things off.

For Australia, however, the final game is just a mere formality, even though the top-ranked team in the world does not want to take things easy. Off the field, the players have had some fun times - from applying mehendi on their hands to doing a bit of sightseeing in and around Mumbai - but when they take the field on Tuesday evening, their focus will be to finish the tour on a winning note. For Australia, Tahlia McGrath will be leading the team as Alyssa Healy, who strained her calf muscle in the last game, is unavailable for the final game. On the eve of the game, McGrath said that Healy will undergo further scans once she is back in Australia.

While opener Beth Mooney holds the record for being the leading run-scorer in the series, the seasoned Ellyse Perry has returned to form in style, with two consecutive 70-plus scores, and in the last game, she would be hoping to keep the momentum going. Spinner Ashleigh Gardner has been Australia’s leading wicket-taker with five scalps and the visiting team will be hoping to make sure that it maintains the dominance once again.

After that Super Over victory, India had reignited hopes of a turnaround, but things did not go the way it would have wanted. With yet another series defeat at home, Harmanpreet’s team needs to ensure that it learns from its mistakes and gets better in the months to come.

- Shayan Acharya

THE SQUADS

India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Devika Vaidya, S. Meghana, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol.

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland.

Match starts at 7 PM IST.

Which TV channel will broadcast IND-W vs AUS-W 5th T20I live?

The fifth T20I between India Women and Australia Women will be aired LIVE on the Star Sports Network.

Where to watch the live stream of IND-W vs AUS-W 5th T20I?

The fifth T20I between India Women and Australia Women will be streamed LIVE on Disney+Hotstar.

When will IND-W vs AUS-W th T20I match begin?

The fifth T20I between India Women and Australia Women will begin at 7:00 PM IST at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.