Australia vs India: Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner lead hosts to ODI clean sweep
Australia swept past India with an 83-run victory in the three-match one-day international series in Perth.
The world champions recovered from 78-4 to 298-6 as all-rounder Annabel Sutherland scored a brilliant 110 off just 95 balls.
The Indian team then started aggressively and scored 299 runs to win, eventually winning 189-3, with opener Smriti Mandhana scoring a brilliant century of her own.
But Mandana was dismissed for 105 off 109 balls, resulting in a three-wicket collapse and no runs scored. The world champions turned the tables and India finished with 215 runs in 45.1 overs. .
Spinner Ash Gardner had a brilliant half-century with figures of 5-30 and a 96-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sutherland. Received the best player award for the game and series.
The Australian innings started with a score of 58 between young players Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll, but Ellyse Perry and Beth Mu Beth Mooney lost by 4 points and 10 points respectively, giving India a chance to fight back.
But the impressive Sutherland, who hit 9 fours and 4 sixes in her batting, turned the momentum around as Gardner hit 50 and captain Tahlia McGrath McGrath scored an unbeaten 56.
Despite the eventual victory, Australia were uncharacteristically sloppy against India, failing four catches.
Harleen Deol and Mandhana scored 39 runs in a 118-run stand for the second wicket with two dismissals and they also bowled 14 balls.
But India were unable to capitalize on their chances, with their middle order wilting under run-rate pressure and no other batsman able to breach the 20-run mark.
Both teams are back in action soon, with India taking on West Indies in the T20 series starting on Sunday and Australia heading to New Zealand for the ODI series starting on Wednesday, December 18.
