IND-W A VS AUS-W A: Australia completes 3-0 sweep, Vrinda’s fifty in vain

Vlaeminck’s comeback has been encouraging after she was condemned to a prolonged layoff after dislocating her bowling shoulder during the first game of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in UAE. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Australia A Women completed a 3-0 sweep of the unofficial T20I series against India A Women with a narrow seven-run victory in the third and final match at the PCA International Stadium in New Chandigarh on Thursday.

Batting first, Australia A posted 168/5 in 20 overs, powered by a 100-run stand for the third wicket between Courtney Webb and Anika Learoyd. In reply, India A fought hard but fell short, bowled out for 161 in 19.5 overs, despite a spirited chase that went down to the wire.

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Tahlia Wilson and Rachel Trenaman couldn’t capitalise on brisk starts, with Vaishnavi Sharma -- playing her first game of the series -- and Sayali Satghare respectively sending them back early. Webb and Learoyd steadied the ship to help the visitors to a competitive score.

Webb scored 52 off 42 balls, hitting five fours and one six, while Learoyd top-scored with 61 off 42, including five fours and three sixes.

For India A Women, Sayali finished with figures of 2/25 in four overs, while Vaishnavi took 2/32.

India fielded a few changes in the lineup for this fixture. Shipra Giri, Jintimani Kalita made way for Uma Chetry and Vaishnavi.

Vrinda Dinesh opened with Tejal Hasabnis, with the pair stitching a crucial 84-run opening partnership in just 46 deliveries to inject some early hopes of consolation win after already ceding the series.

Sianna Ginger dismissed Tejal, who managed a 24-ball 42 featuring three fours and three sixes. Captain Anushka Sharma, too, fell soon after for a 10-ball 11 to Tayla Vlaeminck. But a familiar middle-order wobble ensued, with India losing three wickets, including the prized wicket of Vrinda, for just three runs.

Vrinda fell to Hayley Silver-Holmes for a 41-ball 69 with 40 runs still needed off the last five overs.

India eventually fell seven runs short with Vlaeminck and offie Lilly Mills taking three wickets each to blow India out of the contest.