Mithali Raj smashed a 61-ball 105 to help India A record a comfortable win over Australia A in the second T20 match in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Raj’s innings was laced with 18 boundaries and one six. She reached her half century off 31 balls and the century in 59 balls.
From 66/4, Raj and captain Harmanpreet Kaur stitched together an 85-run partnership that took India A to a formidable total of 184/5 in 20 overs. In response, Australia A managed 156/9 with India’s spinners collectively chipping in with the wickets.
Raj’s 105 is now the highest score by an Indian woman in T20 cricket, breaking the record set by Smriti Mandhana earlier this year in the KIA Super League.
Highest individual scores by Indians in Women's T20s:
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) October 24, 2018
105* - MITHALI RAJ (for India A, Today)
102 - Smriti Mandhana (for WS, 2018)
100* - Mithali Raj (for RLW, 2017/18)
96* - Smriti Mandhana (for MH, 2012/13)#IndAvAusA
The Aussies were never in the hunt in the chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Opener Tahila McGrath (47) showed some resistance ran out of partners as the Indian bowlers were on target.
Off-spinner Deepti Sharma (2/32), Poonam Yadav (2/29) and Anuja Patil (2/31) spearheaded the wicket hunt while Radha Yadav, Pooja Vastrakar and Harmanpreet Kaur grabbed a wicket each.
Brief Scores: India A 184/5 (Mithali Raj 105*, Harmanpreet Kaur 57, Tahila McGrath 2/36) beat Australia A 156/9 (Tahila McGrath 47, Heather Graham 24, Poonam Yadav 2/29) by 28 runs.
Earlier, Smriti Mandhana (72 off 40) had laid the foundation and Pooja Vastrakar (21 off nine balls) finished with a flourish as a strong India A team beat Australia A by four wickets in the first T20 on Monday.
