Australia vs India, 2nd T20I as it happened: Lanning and Co win thriller to take multi-format series
Updates through the second T20I of the multi-format series between Meg Lanning’s Australia and Harmanpreet Kaur’s India.
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The series is decided but it’s not over. The final T20I will be played tomorrow as India look to end the tour on a high. It’s been a terrific series across the formats and hopefully we get one good final match, even if it’s a dead rubber. Join us for the live updates from that on Sunday.
🎙️ #HarmanpreetKaur: We were 20 runs short today. Wicket was not that easy to bat on. We had a good game, we didn't give them easy runs and we fought till the end. I want my team to take a little more responsibility and try and win the game tomorrow. #AUSvIND
— Lavanya L Narayanan (@lav_narayanan) October 9, 2021
The Player of the Match is Tahlia McGrath for her 42 not out off 33 that took Australia home. She was cool under pressure in what her first T20I innings. Deserving victory for a player who has shined through the series.
For her 42* (33) and helping steer Australia home, Tahlia McGrath is the player of the match 👏 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jETjtVCYCz
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 9, 2021
What a series so far for Tahlia McGrath. She’s gone from the fringes of the Australian side to undroppable in their first XI.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) October 9, 2021
Nerves of steel to close out the match for Australia tonight. Think she has an important role to play in the side in the years to come. #AUSvIND
Some reactions to the thriller
Honestly, India had no right to take this match even close, so those last few minutes hopefully doesn't take away from otherwise a superb bowling (and a decent fielding) effort. Match was lost with the bat. #AUSvIND
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 9, 2021
That was a superb advertisement for the women's T20 game that's for sure. A low scoring thriller #AUSvIND
— Clint Stevens (@clintstevens123) October 9, 2021
So nearly again for India.....🤦♂️ https://t.co/5DDAAAb0mx
— Women's Cricket Blog (@WomensCricBlog) October 9, 2021
AUSTRALIA WIN!
The second T20I by 4 wickets and the multi-format series by taking an unassailable lead at 9 points (to India’s 5).
It was a thriller that went down to the wire.... till India failed to contain the ropes at death. A brilliant win for the hosts under pressure and much credit to India for making a match out of this. But the team has much to introspect too.
74, 47, 28, 42*
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) October 9, 2021
It’s a breakout series with the bat for Tahlia McGrath. Ice-cold under serious pressure tonight #AUSvIND
Tahlia McGrath you little ripper!
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) October 9, 2021
6 from 10 required....#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lRUY5Ob8iq
Australia 118/6 after 19 overs, need 1 off 6 balls.
Renuka Singh gets the penultimate over... an odd call from India. The rookie feeds a full toss on the first ball that is struck down the ground for four by Tahlia McGrath. Make that back-to-back boundaries, and suddenly it’s Australia’s match again. McGrath moves to 41 off 32.
If this was a team plan, seems a very strange one. https://t.co/NTdP4emlzQ
— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) October 9, 2021
Australia 105/6 after 18 overs, need 14 runs off 12 balls.
Shikha Pandey comes in for her final over now.... and it’s a big one for Australia with 11 runs off it, thanks to fielding. Misfields from Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar at the ropes gives away two boundaries and the equation has completely changed. Sigh, had to be fielding!
Easy to forget this is Tahlia McGrath’s maiden T20I innings #AUSvIND
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Nicola Carey is out on 7 off 8. Australia 94/6 after 17 overs, need 25 runs in 18 balls.
Gayakwad into her final over and the spinning star gets her third of the match. Carey is STUMPED while dancing down... a bit awkward from Ghosh as the ball slips from her gloves but it finds its mark in the end. Rajeshwari Gayakwad finishes with excellent figures of 4-0-21-3
Four overs, 21 runs (at least two fours were off outside edges), three wickets. Gayakwad has delivered with the ball. Now on to others to close the game for India. #AUSvIND https://t.co/9Xf0qn5BzQ
— Gomesh S | கோமேஷ் ச (@theumpires_call) October 9, 2021
Australia 88/5 after 16 overs, need 31 runs off 24 balls.
India bring in Renuka Singh, a bit of a gamble but she gives away just six runs in singles and a double.
Tahila McGrath is the real danger now!#AUSvIND
— PouLaMi (@Crictopher17) October 9, 2021
Australia 82/5 after 15 overs, need 37 runs off 30 balls.
Nicola Carey the new batter in, Harmanpreet brings herself back into the attack. McGrath gets a much needed boundary to make it 6 runs off the over. But the required rate is at about 7.5 now.
A lot of pressure now on a relatively inexperienced tail - even those who have played lots for Australia haven't been in this situation too often.
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) October 9, 2021
#AUSvIND
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 9, 2021
How crucial is this wicket going to be?
🎥 Cricket Australia pic.twitter.com/vuxeO9r2Rw
WICKET! Beth Mooney is out on 34 off 36. Australia 76/5 after 14 overs.
STUMPED! The stand is broken and it’s advantage India again.
What do we say to Mooney building a solid knock in the second match again? Not today, says Gayakwad. The left-arm spinner comes back into the attack and strikes on the very first ball. That is a BIG wicket, excellent work from both RGs!
Australia 71/4 after 13 overs.
Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath are rebuilding.... and rotating strike and getting runs. Why does that sounds familiar? This is the second T20I, after all.
#SecondMatchMooney #SecondMatchSpecialists https://t.co/SneGjRKDJt
— Gomesh S | கோமேஷ் ச (@theumpires_call) October 9, 2021
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
Australia 56/4 after 11 overs.
Vastrakar is back in as India look to rotate bowlers too. Almost has Mooney but Ghosh drops a tough, wide catch behind the stumps. A second chance as Ghosh takes a low catch but the umpires go upstairs and she is clear. Just 3 runs off the over, a good one for India nonetheless.
Mooney and McGrath batting together. Flashback! 😭#AUSvIND
— PouLaMi (@Crictopher17) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Ellyse Perry is out on 2 off 4. Australia 53/4 after 10 overs.
Deepti Sharma brought into the attack after that one over from Harmanpreet and she strikes on her very first ball! Perry dances down to smack the ball but she hits its straight to the captain, who jumps to pouch it.
A boundary from Mooney and the 50 comes up for Australia.
The ENEGRY from this team on the field has been very encouraging, we have a game on our hands! The required rate is over 6 at the halfway mark, but Mooney and McGrath on crease (remember the second ODI?)
Harman’s reaction after that Perry catch was something else. Four down. Can we dare to dream? #AUSvIND #AUSWvINDW https://t.co/ocuZIn2wgm
— Edges & Sledges Cricket Podcast (@1tip1hand) October 9, 2021
Australia 46/3 after 9 overs.
Ellyse Perry, in her landmark game, is the new bat in and does she have a task on her hands! A good over from Gayakwad till Mooney gets a boundary off the final ball to make it 8 runs off it.
And then takes a catch, and we witnessed some good fielding from her in the first over too! https://t.co/uLLKzmiFrV
— Sudatta (@iSudatta) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Ash Garnder is out on 1 off 5. Australia 38/3 after 8 overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur brings herself into the attack as Ash Garnder comes in. Interesting choice.... and it works! A soft dismissal as Gardner cuts it straight to point, a low catch straight in Gayakwad’s hands. The captain and the team are PUMPED!
Yeah the Taj Mahal looks great and all that but have you ever seen Gayakwad beat Lanning like that and leave her standed, LIVE?
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@SachinAzharCT) (@ovshake42) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Meg Lanning is out 15 on off 20. Australia 35/2 after 7 overs.
STUMPED by RG off RG! Spin comes into the attack and Rajeshwari Gayakwad gets the BIG ONE in her first over. Lanning dances down and Richa Ghosh does the rest with the gloves.
Beautiful delivery from Rajeshwari Gayakwad to get the Australian captain!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 9, 2021
Bit of flight, bit of drift, bit of turn and Lanning is left stranded #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/iXhJNTCpip
Quality spell that @shikhashauny 🙌🏻 https://t.co/QQ0GpHzsHl
— Marizanne Kapp (@kappie777) October 9, 2021
Australia 33/1 after 6 overs.
Pooja Vastrakar comes into the attack for the final over of Powerplay and Lanning dispatches her for a boundary off the very first ball. Mooney gets a boundary as well to make it 9 runs off the over. A good partnership is building up and fair to say the Powerplay favoured the hosts after that bright start.
Australia 24/1 after 5 overs.
Shikha Pandey has one hittable delivery in the over and Meg Lanning finds the gap, as she does. Pandey responds with another snorter. She creates another chance when Lanning lofts it but there’s no fielder there. 8 runs off the over as the Aussie captain is taking the attack to the India’s pace spearhead.
Australia 16/1 after 4 overs.
Renuka Singh continues to maintain pressure at the other end... till Beth Mooney breaks the shackles to get a boundary off the last ball to make it 8 runs off the over.
6 runs from the last three overs. Shikha is in their heads. #AUSvIND
— Lavanya L Narayanan (@lav_narayanan) October 9, 2021
Seems crazy that she hasn't appeared until now.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 9, 2021
Australia 8/1 after 3 overs.
Shikha Pandey continues showing her versatility and almost creates another chance but the fielder doesn’t reach the ball. Four singles off the over
Renuka Singh's home town is Parsa, HP
— Snehal Pradhan #MaskUp (@SnehalPradhan) October 9, 2021
(pronounced paar-sa). When I looked for it on Google maps, I literally couldn't find it the first time. It's some 115 km from Shimla. Has developed cos of HP's residential academy.
I keep repeating this. WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE HIDDEN TALENT!
Australia 4/1 after 2 overs.
Renuka Singh bowling her first over in international cricket, starts off with a maiden. To Beth Mooney.
I have never seen Shikha Pandey celebrate like that! Talk about frustration! #AUSvIND #CantKeepAGoodBowlerDown
— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Alyssa Healy is out on 4 off 2. Australia 4/1 after 1 over.
BOUNDARY & BOWLED! Shikha Pandey, making her India comeback, strikes on the second ball. Sensational swing from the veteran pacer bowling her first over from the tour, giving just the start India needed. The bowler is pumped!
Unreeeeeeal! 😱 How far did that ball move? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/D3g7jqRXWK
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
India in the huddle. An energetic jog on to the middle. Early wickets, you never know!
India: 118/9 (20 overs)
Pooja Vastrakar and Rajeshwari Gayakwad put on a 37-run stand, the second-highest tenth-wicket partnership of all time (women's T20Is).
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
Pooja 37*, Rajeshwari 0* #AUSvIND https://t.co/IqtflLvd4H
Some reactions to India’s innings:
If not for those couple of run-outs, would have got 130-135. On a bad day, when the top-order failed, that would have been quite good. The top-order won't fail often
— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) October 9, 2021
Horror show from India women, BUT, this is the same intent that took them to 130 off 15 overs. There need to be smarter shot choices, and God, better running, but the whole point of having Vastrakar at 8 is that the batters can play freely on good batting pitches. #AUSvIND
— Snehal Pradhan #MaskUp (@SnehalPradhan) October 9, 2021
STAT ALERT: The partnership between Pooja Vastrakar (30) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (0) is worth 37 runs. This is India’s highest ever 10th wicket partnership in T20Is and third highest 10th wicket stand in white-ball cricket.
Pooja Vastrakar and Rajeshwari Gayakwad put on a 37-run stand, the second-highest tenth-wicket partnership of all time (women's T20Is).
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
Pooja 37*, Rajeshwari 0* #AUSvIND https://t.co/IqtflLvd4H
India finish in 118/9
A sensational late cameo from Pooja Vastrakar (37 of 26) takes India to a decent score
Hannah Darlington to bowl the last over and Pooja Vastrakar starts off with a cracking boundary over the bowler’s head! She continues in the same vein, slashing at all and getting a cleanly-hit maximum on the fourth ball – also straight down long-off. She finishes with a boundary of the last ball, making it a very valuable 16-run India. Terrific batting.
That Pooja Vastrakar smash almost took Hannah Darlington with it! Uff! #AUSvIND
— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) October 9, 2021
India 102/9 after 19 overs.
The 100 comes up for India, in the 19th over with 9 down. That is... respectable all things considered. One over to go.
😂 all happening at Metricon tonight https://t.co/AqShKH1sDO
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) October 9, 2021
India 99/9 after 18 overs.
Pooja Vastrakar! The all-rounder is adding some much needed, and late zing to the Indian innings, with 9 down. A clean SIX and a thwacked FOUR and a five wides off the over from Nicola Carey. She moves to 18 off 15. India needed this.
Can't help thinking of last year's T20 WC Final. When the chips were down in a must win game, Australia handled the pressure so much better. The benefit of high-pressure WBBL knockouts and finals, perhaps. #AUSvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Renuka Singh is out on 1 off 3. India 81/9 after 17 overs.
Well, well... the procession continues. The newcomer is bowled in her first innings, missing the line completely from Sophie Molineux. Rajeshwari Gayakwad, the last batter, in.
Another look at that run out. Super from Australia, disastrous from India.
Perry & McGrath were outstanding, then the easiest run out of Healy's career! 😅#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gT3e5oC0O2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Shikha Pandey is out on 1 off 3. India 78/8 after 16 overs.
Bowled her! Ash Gardner has her first wicket and Shikha Pandey’s comeback with the bat is short-lived. That’s two wickets in the over.
WICKET! Deepti Sharma is out on 16 off 19. India 75/6 after 15.2 overs
A horrible mix-up as both batters are the same end when Healy whips the bails at the striker’s end. They have to go upstairs to figure which batter, Vastrakar or Sharma, is out. Both don’t want to go on their own. Excellent fielding from Australia, of course.
Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar trying to avoid a run out by racing to the non-strikers end 🙈 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/3AeIqKNoTA
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 9, 2021
India 75/6 off 15 overs.
Hannah Darlington comes into the attack, the seventh Australian bowler in 15 overs. Meg Lanning has a lot of options, doesn’t she? Four runs off the over.
Strike rate v/s consistency !! Hmmm not sure which one will be at rescue act 😉
— Vanitha VR (@ImVanithaVR) October 9, 2021
India 65/6 off 13 overs.
Deepti Sharma survives a huge LBW shout when hit on the arm by Ash Garnder. Pooja Vastrakar is the new bat in. 4 runs off the over
For starters, India have averted their lowest T20I score when all out. 62 was the mark. Now, to try and bat out 20 overs and get past 100. #AUSvIND
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Richa Ghosh is out on 2 off 10. India 61/6 off 12 overs.
Nicola Carey comes into the attack and strikes in her first over as the Indian procession continues. Ghosh comes down the track on the final ball, misses it completely and is bowled.
High-class leg-spin from Georgia Wareham!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was looking in excellent touch but she's caught well short by Alyssa Healy 👏@CommBank | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/BlRmkMFBny
WICKET! Yastika Bhatia is out on 8 off 1. India 53/5 after 10 overs
A terrible miscommunication between Bhatia and new bat Richa Ghosh as the set batter is run out. At the halfway mark, India’s innings is in absolute shambles.
Another mix-up, another wicket for Australia! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/G4eLRllAbA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Harmanpreet Kaur out on 28 off 20. India 50/4 after 9 overs.
Big wicket for Australia as Georgia Wareham strikes on the penultimate ball of the over. The India captain is stumped as she comes down, and Healy doesn’t miss much with the gloves.
What a good take from Alyssa Healy. Hasn’t had the best series behind the stumps, but that was very very good. Big wicket for Wareham. #AUSvIND #KeepersUnion
— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) October 9, 2021
Mott: Lot of big moments, with the milestones and the debutants. It feels like we're clapping nonstop at the warm-ups.
— Lavanya L Narayanan (@lav_narayanan) October 9, 2021
Hahaha. #AUSvIND
India 43/3 after 8 overs.
Ellyse Perry back for her second and Harmanpreet Kaur makes it a big over with three boundaries. 15 runs off the over, much needed.
This is the 4th time both Smriti & Shafali have been out for single digit scores in a T20I match.
— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) October 9, 2021
India has won 2 out of the previous 3 instances. The only loss came against SA in 2019 which is India's biggest loss by margin of runs (105) in women's T20Is till date.#AUSvIND
India 25/3 after 7 overs.
Yastika Bhatia is the new bat in. Ash Garnder comes into the attack and gives away just 3 runs.
India women have played eighteen T20Is since the start of t2020.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 9, 2021
Only three of those matches have seen them lose 3 or more wickets during the powerplay:
v AUS, 2020 (T20 World Cup final)
v AUS, Thursday
v AUS, today#AUSvIND
WICKET! Jemimah Rodrigues is out on 7 off 13. India 25/3 after 6 overs.
Oh dear, last match’s best performer is out cheap and India have lost three wickets in six overs! Sophie Molineux returns for the last over of the Powerplay and Rodrigues comes down the track to slog it out, but doesn’t get anything on the heave and it goes straight the fielder inside the ring. The reprieve she got off a tough chance in the last over doesn’t last long. A very, very good Powerplay for Australia.
India 24/2 after 5 overs:
Vlaeminck continues, but no wicket in this over and an actual boundary! Harmanpreet gets a delivery in her zone and she flicks it to square leg. Hang on, make that back-to-back boundaries for the captain – two near identical strokes to inject some much needed momentum in the Powerplay. 10 runs off the over.
First T20I: 46/2 from 4 overs
— Gomesh S | கோமேஷ் ச (@theumpires_call) October 9, 2021
Second T20I: 14/2 from 4 overs
How quickly things have changed for India? Will require either one of Harman and Jemimah to play a long innings for India to get to a defendable total.#AUSvIND
India 14/2 after 4 overs:
Harmanpreet Kaur is the new batter in. Ellyse Perry, who made anther record today, comes into the attack and bowls a very tidy over with just 2 runs off it.
This close to Vlaeminck's wicket of Shafali Verma being ruled a no-ball instead 😬 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uGMSrJj22L
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Shafali Verma is out on 3 off 7. India 12/2 after 2.5 overs.
Both Indian openers are out in the span of two overs from Tayla Vlaeminck.
Shafali Verma, as she does, goes hard at the ball but doesn’t get the timing or distance and it goes straight to the fielder at mid-off. Not the best of starts for India.
The pace and the late swing meant that Mandhana's bat turned in a bit and went a lot squarer than where she wanted to. Also, what a catch that from Carey! #AUSvIND
— Gomesh S | கோமேஷ் ச (@theumpires_call) October 9, 2021
India 9/1 after 2 overs
Jemimah Rodrigues, star of the last match, is the new bat in. Sophie Molineux to share the new ball as Australia go for seam-spin combo. Four singles off the over.
That late shape in! So good to see Tayla Vlaeminck back and moving the ball late. Those tight lines Smriti Mandhana’s undoing again… #NoGardnerToday #AUSvIND #TeamPacer
— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) October 9, 2021
WICKET! Mandhana is out on 1 off 5. India 5/1 after 1 over
Here we go, Tayla Vlaeminck with the new ball and she strikes.
The express pacer, returning from injury, is still struggling with rhythm and a couple of extras in her first over. But on the ninth ball of the over, she induces an edge from Smriti Mandhana which goes straight to the fielder at mid-wicket. A very good, low catch from Nicola Carey and the Indian opening stand is broken early.
Lovely words from our former skipper @AlexBlackwell2 who tonight passes on the mantle of our most capped player to Ellyse Perry ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NST66KPytp
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) October 9, 2021
Stat Alert: Ellyse Perry becomes the most capped Australian female player of all-time with 252 caps, passing Alex Blackwell.
Congratulations to @EllysePerry, who becomes the most capped women's player for Australia across formats, surpassing Alex Blackwell's 251 caps 👏 pic.twitter.com/9tt1gaqlLc
— ICC (@ICC) October 9, 2021
TEAM NEWS and PLAYING XI:
Both Australia and India are fielding unchanged XIs from the last match.
India XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodriques, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Yastika Bhatia, Richa Gosha (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh #AUSvIND
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2021
TOSS TIME:
And Australia have won the toss.... again amid laughter from both captains.
Meg Lanning has chosen to bowl first. Of course.
Australia have won the toss (AGAIN) and will BOWL first in the second T20 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/0slKb8f2Fk
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 9, 2021
The multi-format series stands 7-5 in Australia’s favour and India will need to win both remaining matches – the T20Is on Saturday and Sunday – to win it.
Read more in our preview
01.00 pm: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the final leg of India’s tour of Australia. After rain played spoilsport in the first T20I, Meg Lanning’s Australia and Harmanpreet Kaur’s India meet for the second in Carrara, Gold Coast.
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Darcie Brown, Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Redmayne, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Yastika Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Meghna Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wk), Harleen Deol, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh.
Here’s a quick recap of the multi-format series and the points tally:
First ODI: Australia won by nine wickets (2-0)
Second ODI: Australia won by five wickets (4-0)
Third ODI: India won by two wickets (4-2)
One-off Test: Match drawn (6-4)
First T20I: Match rained out (7-5)
Follow Scroll.in’s coverage of India tour of Australia here.