Mandhana, Rawal Power India to Record 330 Against Australia — Highest-Ever Total in Women’s World Cup Clash

Visakhapatnam, Oct 2025 : Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal produced scintillating half-centuries to script history as India posted 330 all out, their highest-ever total against Australia in a Women’s World Cup match, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. The score surpassed England’s 298 — previously the biggest total against the seven-time champions in World Cup history.

For India, this innings was about redemption and resurgence after a disappointing loss to South Africa. The openers rose to the occasion, displaying poise, aggression, and confidence to lay a rock-solid foundation for a formidable total.

Mandhana, who had accumulated only 54 runs across the first three matches of the ongoing World Cup, roared back to form with a 66-ball 80, peppered with nine fours and three sixes. Her partner, Pratika Rawal, matched her stroke for stroke, crafting a well-compiled 75 off 96 deliveries with ten boundaries and one six. Together, they stitched a 155-run partnership, the highest opening stand ever recorded against Australia in Women’s World Cup history.

In the process, Mandhana reached a historic milestone — becoming the youngest and fastest woman to cross 5,000 runs in ODIs, achieving the feat in just 112 matches. She surpassed West Indies legend Stafanie Taylor, who had taken 129 innings to reach the same landmark. The left-hander reached her 5,000th run with a signature six over midwicket off Kim Garth in the 21st over.

Australia’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly. Alyssa Healy’s bowlers struggled with inconsistent lengths, offering both Mandhana and Rawal ample scoring opportunities. The duo capitalised fully, punishing anything short or wide, while also finding the gaps with precision. The openers, however, enjoyed slices of luck — a couple of edges and aerial shots landing just short or wide of fielders.

Mandhana was in her element, mixing elegance with aggression. She reached her half-century off 46 balls, peppering the field with classic drives, flicks, and sweeps. She took particular liking to Sophie Molineux, smacking consecutive boundaries in the eighth over and later lofting Kim Garth for a stunning six over extra cover. Her dismissal came just as she was threatening to reach her third century against Australia in a month — caught at deep midwicket by Phoebe Litchfield off Molineux. Her 80 came at a strike rate of 121.21.

Rawal, who had been the steadier of the two early on, shifted gears smoothly, bringing up her maiden World Cup fifty in 69 balls. Her controlled aggression included a crisp short-arm jab off Annabel Sutherland and a straight six down the ground off Ashleigh Gardner. She too perished while trying to accelerate, caught by Ellyse Perry off Sutherland.

After the dominant opening stand, Australia fought back admirably. Annabel Sutherland spearheaded the comeback with a five-wicket haul (5-40), while Sophie Molineux supported well with 3-75. India, at one stage, seemed on course for a mammoth 400-plus total but were restricted to 330 after a flurry of late wickets.

Middle-order contributions from Harleen Deol (38 off 42) and Harmanpreet Kaur (22 off 17) kept the scoreboard ticking, while Jemimah Rodrigues (33 off 21) and Richa Ghosh (32 off 22) added a brisk 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket, injecting vital runs toward the end. However, India’s lower order faltered, losing their last five wickets for just 44 runs.

From 192/1 in the first 30 overs to 138/9 in the last 20, the Australian bowlers staged a commendable fightback to prevent further damage. Yet, the early onslaught had already ensured that India ended with a towering total — one that sets up the contest beautifully for the second innings.

Brief Scores:
India 330 all out in 48.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 80, Pratika Rawal 75, Jemimah Rodrigues 33, Richa Ghosh 32; Annabel Sutherland 5-40, Sophie Molineux 3-75) vs Australia.