Yastika Bhatia’s rapid century powered India A to 338, but Australia A held their nerve in a dramatic final-over chase to level the series 1-1 in Mohali.
Australia A produced a remarkable chase at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, defeating India A by two wickets after successfully pursuing a daunting target of 339. The visitors needed just five runs from the final over and completed the chase with three deliveries remaining, turning a high-scoring contest into a tense finish.
India A captain Yastika Bhatia played the defining innings for the hosts, smashing 112 from only 84 balls. Her aggressive knock included 16 fours and two sixes and helped India A post 338/6 after opting to bat first.
However, Australia’s response featured three half-centuries and a decisive late cameo from Milly Illingworth. With wickets falling regularly in the final stages, Illingworth held her nerve and struck the runs required to take Australia A over the line.
Yastika Bhatia Sets the Platform With a Brilliant Century
After winning the toss, Yastika chose to bat first and India A made an attacking start on a batting-friendly surface.
Priya Punia immediately put pressure on the Australian bowlers during the powerplay, hitting Tess Flintoff for four consecutive boundaries in the sixth over. Tanisha Singh also attempted to keep the scoring rate moving despite some difficult deliveries.
Australia eventually broke the opening partnership when Milly Illingworth dismissed Priya in the 11th over. Priya had scored 36 from 32 balls.
Illingworth then struck again to remove Tanisha, who made 37 from 49 deliveries. Those wickets gave Australia an opportunity to slow India’s progress, but Yastika had already settled into her innings.
The India A captain reached her half-century from 44 balls in the 24th over, and her acceleration continued from there.
Yastika Reaches 100 From Just 77 Balls
Yastika shifted gears decisively during the middle overs. She attacked the Australian bowlers whenever opportunities appeared and continued finding the boundary with regularity.
In the 34th over, she struck Charli Knott for two fours and a six, taking her closer to another milestone.
Two overs later, Yastika completed her century from only 77 deliveries. It was a powerful demonstration of controlled aggression, with the captain combining boundary hitting with enough strike rotation to keep India’s innings moving.
Darcie Brown eventually ended Yastika’s outstanding innings in the 36th over. By then, the India A captain had scored 112 from 84 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes.
Her dismissal could have slowed India’s momentum, but India still had enough batting resources to post a formidable total.
Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma Add Valuable Runs
Tejal Hasabnis played an important supporting role during the middle overs. She built a steady partnership with Yastika before reaching her half-century from 60 balls.
Tejal eventually fell to Lilly Mills in the 43rd over after scoring 60 from 66 deliveries.
Niki Prasad was dismissed for a six-ball duck, while Minnu Mani also departed after contributing only a small number of runs.
Despite those setbacks, Anushka Sharma ensured India did not lose momentum during the final overs.
Anushka reached her half-century from 42 balls after hitting a six and continued attacking as the innings approached its conclusion. She finished with 60 from 46 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
Sayali Satghare contributed an unbeaten 12 from 12 balls, allowing India A to finish on 338/6.
| India A Batter | Runs | Balls | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yastika Bhatia | 112 | 84 | 16 fours, 2 sixes |
| Tejal Hasabnis | 60 | 66 | Important middle-order partnership |
| Anushka Sharma | 60* | 46 | 7 fours, 2 sixes |
| Priya Punia | 36 | 32 | Fast opening contribution |
| Tanisha Singh | 37 | 49 | Provided early support |
Australia A Launches a Strong Reply
Chasing 339 required Australia A to maintain a high scoring rate throughout the innings, and the visitors responded positively.
Nicole Faltum was dismissed by Sayali Satghare in the seventh over after making 12 from 20 balls. That early wicket, however, did not stop Australia’s momentum.
Tahlia Wilson and Anika Learoyd took advantage of the powerplay and continued attacking the Indian bowlers.
Learoyd was particularly aggressive. She reached her fifty from only 27 deliveries in the 14th over after hitting a six off Vaishnavi Sharma.
Her innings ended in the following over when Minnu Mani dismissed her. Learoyd had scored 54 from just 29 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.
Charli Knott Keeps Australia in the Chase
Charli Knott continued the attacking approach after Learoyd’s departure, while Tahlia Wilson adopted the anchoring role.
Knott reached her half-century from 31 balls in the 23rd over, hitting Amandeep Kaur for a six to reach the milestone.
Her partnership with Wilson gave Australia A the momentum required to remain in contention for a record chase.
However, Minnu Mani again provided India A with a breakthrough. Knott was dismissed after scoring 63 from 37 deliveries, with seven fours and three sixes.
Katie Mack struggled to get going and was eventually stumped by Vaishnavi Sharma for two from 12 balls.
Wilson continued to anchor the innings and eventually reached her fifty from 49 balls.
Her contribution became increasingly important as Australia approached the latter stages of the chase.
Tahlia Wilson Falls After Scoring 79
Australia’s captain played a composed innings amid the attacking contributions around her.
Wilson reached 79 from 77 deliveries, striking eight fours. She was eventually dismissed by Minnu Mani, leaving Australia A at 220/5 after 30.3 overs.
At that point, India A still had a strong opportunity to defend their total. Australia required another 119 runs, while five wickets remained.
The match was therefore still evenly poised, with India’s bowlers needing to maintain pressure against Australia’s lower order.
Tess Flintoff and Hayley Silver-Holmes Keep Australia Alive
Tess Flintoff and Hayley Silver-Holmes played important roles as Australia attempted to recover from the loss of several set batters.
Flintoff scored 38 from 43 balls before Niki Prasad dismissed her in the 43rd over. Niki also removed Lilly Mills, who made 12 from 11 balls.
Hayley Silver-Holmes then took responsibility for keeping the chase moving. She scored 47 from 51 deliveries and appeared to have taken Australia close enough for the lower order to finish the job.
However, Sayali Satghare dismissed Hayley in the penultimate over, creating another twist in the contest.
Milly Illingworth Produces the Decisive Late Cameo
With Australia A still needing runs and only a small number of wickets remaining, Milly Illingworth became the key batter.
She changed the momentum of the match dramatically in the penultimate over.
Facing Sayali Satghare, Illingworth struck two sixes from three deliveries. Those shots transformed Australia’s equation and ensured that the visitors entered the final over needing only five runs.
India A still had an opportunity to defend the total, but the final over proved chaotic.
Niki Prasad began with a wide before delivering a dot ball. Darcie Brown then took a single, reducing the target further.
A no-ball followed, giving Australia another opportunity and putting the pressure firmly back on India A.
Illingworth made the most of the free hit, striking a boundary to complete the chase and seal a two-wicket victory for Australia A.
How Australia A Completed the 339-Run Chase
| Australia A Batter | Runs | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|
| Tahlia Wilson | 79 | Anchored the chase |
| Charli Knott | 63 | Fast half-century from 31 balls |
| Anika Learoyd | 54 | Half-century from 27 balls |
| Hayley Silver-Holmes | 47 | Important late contribution |
| Tess Flintoff | 38 | Helped stabilize the middle-late overs |
| Milly Illingworth | Key late cameo | Two sixes and final-over boundary |
India A Misses Out Despite a Huge Total
India A’s 338/6 would ordinarily provide a strong foundation for a victory, particularly after Yastika’s century and the contributions from Tejal and Anushka.
However, Australia’s batting depth made the difference.
The visitors had three batters score more than 50 and another two make significant contributions. That meant India A were repeatedly forced to rebuild their advantage after taking wickets.
The final stages demonstrated how small moments can decide a high-scoring ODI. Hayley’s dismissal appeared to give India a major opening, but Illingworth’s two sixes and the late no-ball completely changed the equation.
The final over ultimately produced the decisive sequence, with Australia converting a difficult chase into a dramatic two-wicket win.
Series Level at 1-1
The result means the Australia A women have levelled the series 1-1.
India A had won the opening match by four wickets, giving them an early advantage in the series. Australia’s response in Mohali now sets up a decisive third game.
The series decider will be played at the same venue on September 25.
With both teams having already demonstrated their ability to win high-scoring contests, the final match is likely to provide another important test for their batting depth and bowling execution.
What India A Can Take From the Defeat
There are several positives for India A despite the result.
Yastika’s century demonstrated her ability to control an innings while maintaining a high scoring rate. Tejal and Anushka also showed that the middle and lower order can contribute substantial runs when the top order establishes a platform.
The bowling unit, however, will have areas to review after Australia chased 339. Taking wickets at regular intervals was not enough because the visitors continued producing partnerships and maintained the required scoring rate.
The final over will also attract attention. A wide and no-ball gave Australia additional opportunities when India were defending a narrow margin, before Illingworth finished the match with a boundary.
Final Verdict
India A produced an excellent batting performance through Yastika Bhatia’s 112 and valuable fifties from Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma, posting an imposing 338/6.
Yet Australia A responded with an equally impressive chase. Tahlia Wilson, Anika Learoyd and Charli Knott all scored fifties, while Hayley Silver-Holmes added 47 to keep the visitors within reach of the target.
The decisive moment arrived late when Milly Illingworth smashed two sixes in the penultimate over before completing the chase with a boundary from the final-over free hit.
Australia A’s two-wicket victory levels the series at 1-1 and sets up a winner-takes-the-series contest on September 25 in Mohali.
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