Voll’s 88 powers Australia to 19-run win over India

Georgia Voll produced a career-best 88 and shared a record-breaking opening stand with Beth Mooney as Australia defeated India women by 19 runs in the second T20I at the Manuka Oval on Thursday.

The win, the first in the format under captain Sophie Molineux, handed Australia their opening points in the multi-format series and set up a decider at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

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After being put in to bat, Australia were powered by a commanding 128-run opening partnership, their highest against India in women’s T20Is. Voll struck the ball with authority, compiling 88 from 57 deliveries before falling to Arundhati Reddy in the 15th over. Mooney made a fluent 46 but also perished to Reddy, who returned 2 for 30.

Despite the strong platform, 128 without loss in the 14th over, Australia’s innings lost momentum sharply. The hosts managed only 49 runs from the final seven overs and lost five wickets, eventually finishing on 163 for 5.

India began the chase brightly, their openers surging to 54 without loss in the power-play and putting the target well within reach. However, Australia responded with a decisive burst, removing three top-order batters in four overs to pull the contest back. At 71 for 3 at the halfway stage, the visitors were forced to rebuild.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh added 55 for the fourth wicket to revive India’s hopes, but the game swung again in the 17th over. Kim Garth deceived Harmanpreet with a well-disguised slower ball, dismissing her for 36 and triggering a dramatic collapse.

From that point, India unravelled, losing their last six wickets for just seven runs to fall short by 19.

Ashleigh Gardner led the bowling effort with 3 for 22, while Garth, Annabel Sutherland and Molineux chipped in with two wickets each. Through clever changes of pace and disciplined execution at the death, Australia defended what had briefly appeared an underwhelming total.

Reflecting on the loss, Harmanpreet pointed to the lack of finishing as a decisive factor. “We were looking for runs that time, but it happens when you’re looking for runs; sometimes you collapse. While batting, we should have taken some more responsibility. My partnership with Smriti was very important. I think that was a crucial time when we lost Smriti’s wicket. That was the turning point. Today was the first time we were batting, and now we know the pitch, and hopefully we’ll plan better in the next innings,” said Harmanpreet, who on Thursday became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket with 356 appearances.