Key events
30th over: Australia 148-4 (Sutherland 32, Gardner 36) Everything is falling Gardner’s way now as the Australia swipes outside off and gets a thick edge that races away to the boundary. Sadhu can’t keep the pressure on with a wide ball as the Australian pair share singles.
29th over: Australia 140-4 (Sutherland 30, Gardner 31) Minnu Mani replaces Sharma and Gardner dispatches a first ball loosener to the boundary at backward square leg. That pitched about half way down the track. The of-spinner finds her length with plenty of flight from there.
28th over: Australia 134-4 (Sutherland 29, Gardner 26) DROP! Gardner survives and India are paying the price for grassing three chances. The Australia all-rounder steps down the wicket and clips off her pads but picks out substitute fielder Radha at deep midwicket. Radha has to dive forward while on the move, making it a tough one to grasp, and the ball pops out of her hands as she lands on the ground.
27th over: Australia 131-4 (Sutherland 28, Gardner 24) Australia’s ridiculously deep batting lineup is paying off once again as Sutherland and Gardner took time to get their eye in but now are motoring. Gardner brings up the 50-run partnership with a boundary through square leg. No signs of trouble with the short ball that some attacks try to use against Gardner.
26th over: Australia 124-4 (Sutherland 27, Gardner 18) Gardner follows Sutherland’s lead with the first ball of the over as she pulls a short ball from Thakor to deep square leg. Renuka lost the ball in flight but not sure she would have got to the drop anyway. The fielder recovers to grasp the ball from just off the rope to save two runs. Gardner gets her boundary off the next shorter one.
25th over: Australia 117-4 (Sutherland 27, Gardner 11) Sharma brings spin into the attack for the first time today. Gardner and Sutherland look happy with the change that takes the pace off the ball as they ease ones and twos. That’s until Sutherland dances down the pitch and opens up to clobber a straight drive back over Sharma’s head. One bounce and over the rope to end the over.
24th over: Australia 108-4 (Sutherland 22, Gardner 7) The Australian pair are settling in now. Sutherland clubs a fuller delivery from outside off back between midwicket and mid-on to the boundary. It looks like Arundhati will be given a spell next with Deepti Sharma warming up.
23rd over: Australia 101-4 (Sutherland 17, Gardner 6) First signs of fatigue from Arundhati as the pacer drifts down leg for three wides. Gardner is made to work hard for the third as Mani hits the stumps with the throw from the outfield but the Australian has her bat well across the line. Probably time for Harmanpreet Kaur to hold back Arundhati’s last two overs as Australia move into triple figures. The India quick has four for 18 from eight overs.
22nd over: Australia 96-4 (Sutherland 16, Gardner 5) SIX! And then a dropped catch! Sutherland wallops a six over cover but is almost out next ball. Mani dives to her right but grasses the chance after Sutherland cuts away through point. Sutherland makes her pay with a well-timed drive back past the bowler for four.
21st over: Australia 86-4 (Sutherland 6, Gardner 5) Arundhati Reddy continues for a seventh straight over after the lengthy drinks break with the mercury rising to 41 degrees! Australia will be happy to see her off as they pick up a couple of singles in a cautious over.
20th over: Australia 84-4 (Sutherland 5, Gardner 4) Sutherland sweeps a single through cover and Gardner picks off a drive for one more run as Australia will enjoy the opportunity to reset as both teams head into the rooms for a breather away from the stifling heat. That might work in India’s favour by giving Arundhati Reddy a break after six straight overs.
19th over: Australia 82-4 (Sutherland 4, Gardner 3) Gardner uses up two lives as the right-hander chips straight to mid-on but is dropped by Rodrigues as the India fielder is diving forward. The field was set to trap Gardner on the on-side but the shot fell just short enough to make it difficult for Rodrigues. Arundhati takes everyone else out of the equation with the next delivery that moves a long way in the air at into Gardner’s pads. The finger is raised but a review shows the ball did too much and would have missed leg-stump. Maiden over … but so much more.
18th over: Australia 82-4 (Sutherland 4, Gardner 3) India swing the changes from the opposite end to Arundhati as Renuka Singh takes the cherry. This might be part of a pre-match plan to the ever-dangerous Gardner as the India quick targets the fourth or fifth stump. The Australians do well to find a few singles.
17th over: Australia 79-4 (Sutherland 3, Gardner 1) More success for Arundhati Reddy has flipped this ODI on its head. Mooney is gone to start another superb over from the India pacer who now has four for 11 from five overs. An incredible spell is certainly taking the game up to the usually dominant Australia.
WICKET! Mooney c Ghosh b Arundhati 10 (Australia 78-4)
This could hardly be a better spell from Arundhati who has ripped through the Australian top order herself in just 4.1 overs. Mooney is the chase a delivery that seams away and nicks off. Another clean catch from Ghosh behind the stumps sends her contemporary on her way as the umpire raises the finger this time.
16th over: Australia 78-3 (Mooney 10, Sutherland 3) Australia start to rebuild as Mooney and Sutherland find simple runs without taking any risks. Mooney chips a single to the leg-side then Sutherland finds space through cover for two more off Sadhu.
15th over: Australia 72-3 (Mooney 8, Sutherland 0) Arundhati has another to lead the India fightback. Perry picks up a couple as Mandhana misfields at mid-on but is then bamboozled by swing and seam. Annabel Sutherland sees out the rest of the over as Australia need to protect wickets.
WICKET! Perry b Arundhati 4 (Australia 72-3)
Arundhati has been all over Perry since the Australian star arrived at the crease and finally sends her packing. Perry takes a huge stride to try to eliminate the movement off the seam but plays too straight as the ball beats the outside edge and crashes into the top of off. Where has Arundhati been all series? The seamer has three for 10.
14th over: Australia 70-2 (Perry 2, Mooney 8) Beth Mooney opens up with a scintillating drive to the boundary. No need to run once that shot skips past the infield. Perry is finding the going much tougher as she twice swipes away but is beaten by the movement. The veteran keeps the score ticking over with a chip to the leg side.
13th over: Australia 64-2 (Perry 1, Mooney 3) Arundhati is shaking up this contest and has Perry, of all batters, playing and missing. The India seamer is moving the ball away from the right-hander but gets one to stay straight and almost finds the edge. Perry survives but it’s a maiden over.
12th over: Australia 64-2 (Perry 1, Mooney 3) Mooney is untroubled as the Australian stalwart starts to rebuild the innings after two wickets in the one over. A clip off her hip through square leg picks up a couple.
11th over: Australia 61-2 (Perry 1, Mooney 1) Arundhati breaks up Australia’s opening stand and almost has another with the next delivery. A huge appeal as the ball crashes into new batter Perry’s pads but it swings too far. It was a no-ball anyway and Perry swipes the free-hit straight to Mandhana at mid-on who drops what would have been a non-catch anyway. Arundhati strikes again with Litchfield on strike and both Australia will have to start again with Perry and Mooney.
WICKET! Litchfield c Ghosh b Arundhati 25 (Australia 60-2)
Arundhati has two in the over as Litchfield slashes at a ball outside off that moves away just a touch. A thin edge might have made it a tough chance for Ghosh but the keeper moves across quickly. On-field umpire shakes his head but Ghosh reviews immediately and Litchfield heads for the sheds even before the decision is confirmed.
WICKET! Voll b Arundhati 26 (Australia 58-1)
Arundhati gets the much-needed breakthrough for India after impressing since being called into the attack. Voll plays around an inswinger while trying to clip the ball from outside off through mid-on and two stumps going crashing.
10th over: Australia 58-0 (Litchfield 25, Voll 26) Australia fly through the powerplay without loss even as Titas Sadhu puts together a neat over after starting with a wide. India might be rueing the decision to bowl first with the Australia opening pair looking set.
9th over: Australia 57-0 (Litchfield 25, Voll 26) A chance goes begging as Litchfield hangs the bat out away from her body and nicks off. The drop in pace from new bowler Arundhati Reddy leaves India keeper Ghosh standing too deep and the ball drops in front of her gloves. A bounce between the keeper and first slip races away to the rope and the Indians can barely hide their frustration until a big appeal to end the over. Voll is well out of her crease when the ball crashes into her pads, as Arundhati swings it back into the right-hander. India decide not to review and it’s the right call with the ball heading too far down leg.
8th over: Australia 52-0 (Litchfield 20, Voll 26) Voll brings up the pair’s second consecutive 50-run opening partnership with a casual clip through midwicket to the boundary. A direct hit while sneaking a single later in the over goes upstairs for a review but Voll was comfortably over the line by the time she belatedly ground the bat.
7th over: Australia 46-0 (Litchfield 19, Voll 21) Singh has trouble combining the right line with a good length as Voll and find easy singles with a cut through point, a drive through cover and a pull to backward square leg. Litchfield is moving through the gears now as she steps down the wicket to lift a boundary over mid-off then scoops two more to end an ominous over for India.
6th over: Australia 36-0 (Litchfield 12, Voll 19) Titas Sadhu comes into the attack with India searching for an early breakthrough after this pair put on 48 and 130-run stands in the first two ODIs and look like they could get off the leash again. Litchfield leaves one that swings in late and bounces narrowly over off-stump then takes length out of the next delivery as she dances down the pitch to caress the ball over extra cover.
5th over: Australia 30-0 (Litchfield 8, Voll 18) Litchfield reaches at a delivery drifting away and takes a thick edge but the intent in the shot sends the ball over the two slips to the boundary. An early escape for the left-hander amid a solid couple of over from Singh.
4th over: Australia 26-0 (Litchfield 4, Voll 18) Shot of the day so far as Georgia Voll strides forward and drives exquisitely through extra cover. The third-gamer works the crease for a couple more past square leg, as Thakor loses her line and gives away a wide down leg then another three wides on the same side.
3rd over: Australia 12-0 (Litchfield 1, Voll 11) Singh bounces back after a loose opening over as the right-armer gets the ball moving into right-hander Voll and away from left-hander Litchfield. Singh then surprised with one that jags back into Litchfield but somehow misses the inside edge. Just a single to Voll through cover in a tidy over.
2nd over: Australia 11-0 (Litchfield 1, Voll 10) Saima Thakor opens the bowling from the other end with one slip. A much tighter line and length ties Voll down to a single through cover of the last ball of the over. Voll looks entirely comfortably with a feast or famine depending on what the bowler dishes open.
1st over: Australia 10-0 (Litchfield 1, Voll 9) India start with two slips as Singh finds some early swing. Litchfield chips away for an easy single, but Singh gives Voll far too much room outside the off-stump and is punished with back-to-back boundaries through point. The first is momentarily in the air while never quite putting Voll at risk, the next delivery is a little shorter and is cut straight into the turf on its way to the rope.
Phoebe Litchfield takes two centres and will face the first ball from Renuka Singh who is at the top of her mark. Let’s play cricket …
Phoebe Litchfield is suddenly the elder stateswoman of the Australian opening pair with Georgia Voll to again take on the new ball alongside her at the Waca.
The 21-year-olds have playing together since they were in their teens.
India XI
India: Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Saima Thakor, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu.
Arundhati Reddy and Titas Sadhu come into the side with Priya Punia out with a knee injury and young leg-spinner Priya Mishra also making way.
Australia XI
Australia: Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath (c), Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
Tahlia McGrath reveals that the hosts are unchanged from the second ODI on Sunday. Australia to carry their enviable mix of pace and spin onto the Waca.
Tahlia McGrath is happy for Australia to bat first, says she would have elected to do so if the toss went her way.
It is a really nice place to bat. A really good challenge for our bowling attack, getting our length right because when you do get that there is a lot on offer, change of venue, slight change of tactics. Really crucial to finish well. We are looking to be ruthless and finish off the series.
India win the toss and elect to bowl
Harmanpreet Kaur calls “heads” correctly and the tourists want to make first use of the famous bounce of the Waca wicket.
We are going to bowl first because of the conditions. I think the pitch will definitely suit us.
Completing – or avoiding – a series sweep is not the only lure for Australia and India in this third ODI with the match part of the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship.
Australia lead the current multi-year tournament with 32 points from 20 matches ahead of England, but could still be chased down by third-placed India who are seven points behind with seven games remaining. Two points are awarded for a win.
Two-time defending champions Australia have four games in hand: this clash with India and the three to come in New Zealand.
Young opener Georgia Voll will be given another opportunity to impress in her third ODI against India after an unbeaten half-century on debut was followed by a maiden international ton. The 21-year-old has since been added to the Australia squad to tour New Zealand for three more ODIs with the first to be played next Thursday.
Experienced batter Beth Mooney, who will take the gloves again today against India, has liked what she has seen from Voll since the youngster joined the Australia set up.
She’s taken to it like a duck to water. She’s certainly done everything she can to make sure she keeps her name up in lights with the Australian selectors. She knows her game pretty well after playing a few years in domestic cricket so I think that’s really helped her come into international cricket.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third women’s one-day international between Australia and India. The hosts are chasing a clean sweep in the series after making a statement with five-wicket and 122-run victories in the first two matches played in Brisbane.
Australia have backed emerging talents Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll to open the innings with great success, while Ellyse Perry added a century in the second match against India as the hosts piled on 371 runs. Megan Schutt set up the win in the first ODI with five for 19, as Annabel Sutherland took four for 39 in the next game if only to demonstrate Australia’s range of options and versatility with the ball.
India crashed to their lowest ODI score in 12 years when bowled out for 100 in the opening match but bounced back to find some form in their next outing. Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Minnu Mani and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur all made strong contributions with the bat even while chasing Australia’s third-highest women’s ODI total. The 20-year-old leg-spinner Priya Mishra has been a joy to watch and hopefully is included in the India XI again today, after taking six scalps across her first four ODIs but bearing the brunt of an Australian onslaught in the second clash. But either way, India will want to show that they can match it with the best ahead of a home Women’s ODI World Cup next year.
It’s a typically hot one in Perth today with the temperature already above 35 degrees and expected to hit a high of 39 before a chance of thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening.
First ball at the Waca will be at 12.20pm local time or 3.20pm AEDT. I’ll guide us through the first innings, and let James Wallace take the reins for the second dig.
Team and toss news will be coming shortly. In the meantime, get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
