Mandhana Smashes Fastest Indian Century, But India Fall Short

New Delhi, Sept 2025 : Smriti Mandhana’s blistering century lit up the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, but India fell 43 runs short in their chase of a mammoth 413, conceding the three-match ODI series 2-1 to Australia. Despite recording their highest-ever total in women’s ODIs—369 in 47 overs—the visitors had the final say.

Australia, after winning the toss and opting to bat, piled on 412 runs in 47.5 overs—the sixth-highest total in the format. Beth Mooney led the charge with a destructive 138 off 75 balls, while Georgia Voll (81) and Ellyse Perry (68) provided crucial partnerships. Ashleigh Gardner’s 39 off 24 further accelerated the innings before India staged a late fightback to restrict the scoring in the final overs.

Mooney Sets the Tone for Australia

Skipper Alyssa Healy (30 off 18) got Australia off to a brisk start, adding 43 runs with Voll before falling to Harmanpreet Kaur’s safe hands off debutant Kranti Gaud. Voll then took charge, stitching a 107-run partnership with Perry. Voll’s aggressive 81 came from just 68 balls, but Sneh Rana’s sharp spin ended her stay.

Perry’s composed 68 anchored the middle overs, and her 106-run stand with Mooney further pushed India on the back foot. Mooney, in sensational form, matched former Australian great Karen Rolton’s record for the third-fastest century in women’s ODIs, reaching three figures in just 57 balls. Her knock, laced with boundaries across the ground, demoralized the Indian attack.

Mooney eventually departed for 138, run out in the 45th over, triggering a mini-collapse. From 379/6, Australia managed only 33 more runs, closing on 412. Arundhati Reddy was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3/86, though her figures reflected the tough outing against Australia’s relentless hitters.

Mandhana Leads India’s Charge

Chasing a daunting 413, India needed a blazing start, and Smriti Mandhana provided exactly that. The left-hander carved her way to the fastest ODI century by an Indian woman, reaching the milestone in just 50 balls—the joint second-fastest in women’s ODI history. Her strokeplay, a mix of elegant drives and audacious pulls, kept India in the hunt.

Mandhana shared a crucial 121-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who herself struck a fluent 50 off 32 balls, bringing up 8,000 international runs across formats in the process. However, Harmanpreet’s promising innings was cut short when Kim Garth trapped her lbw, moments after she received on-field treatment for cramps.

Mandhana soon followed, edging Grace Harris to Ashleigh Gardner for 125 off 63 deliveries, leaving India reeling. Her departure marked the turning point, as the required run rate continued to climb.

Middle-Order Fightback Falls Short

India’s middle order had flashes of resistance. Richa Ghosh, after a brief cameo, was run out, while Radha Yadav fell cheaply to Georgia Wareham. Just as Australia seemed to tighten their grip, Deepti Sharma revived India’s hopes with a spirited 72 off 58 balls. Supported by Sneh Rana (35), Deepti rotated the strike cleverly while punishing loose deliveries. Their 82-run stand gave the Indian supporters fresh belief.

But the chase unraveled when Tahlia McGrath dismissed Deepti, followed by Megan Schutt removing Rana. Garth then delivered the killer blow, dismissing Renuka Singh Thakur to end India’s innings at 369.

A Series of Fine Margins

While India registered their highest-ever ODI total, the gulf between the two sides lay in their middle-over efficiency and death bowling. Australia’s batting depth and Mooney’s brilliance proved decisive, whereas India’s reliance on Mandhana’s onslaught highlighted the need for stronger contributions from the rest of the lineup.

For Mandhana, the personal milestone of becoming the fifth-highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs and smashing India’s fastest century was bittersweet. Her fireworks thrilled the crowd but could not overturn the mountain Australia had set.

Brief Scores:

Australia 412 in 47.5 overs (Beth Mooney 138, Georgia Voll 81, Ellyse Perry 68; Arundhati Reddy 3/86)
India 369 in 47 overs (Smriti Mandhana 125, Deepti Sharma 72, Harmanpreet Kaur 50; Kim Garth 3/69)
Australia won by 43 runs, clinched series 2-1.

Team Maverick.