Match Wrap: Aussies secure series with 2-0 lead

Australia have secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in their one-day series against India after a brilliant all-round display with the bat and in the field in the second one-day international in Vadodara.

Needing a record-breaking 288 to keep the series alive, India opener Smriti Mandhana had the hosts on track early when she blazed a half-century but she was the only home batter to pass fifty as the Australian attack – led by a miserly Megan Schutt – fought back to seal a 60-run victory.

Sent in by India, opener Nicole Bolton set the tone for the tourists with a speedy 84 and while a mini-collapse of 3-14 had Australia in a precarious position at the 30-over mark, an outstanding 96-run stand from Beth Mooney (56) and Ellyse Perry (70 not out) ensured India needed to pull off their highest-ever chase against Australia to keep the series alive.

In reply, Mandhana found the boundary with ease as she raced to a half-century from just 41 deliveries. Her chanceless knock more than made up for the struggles of her opening partner Punam Raut – who at one point had faced 43 deliveries for just 13 runs – and had the Australians scratching their heads.

Her first error finally came in the 18th over when she mis-timed a sweep from a Jess Jonassen full toss, finding Megan Schutt on the boundary, a disappointed Mandhana forced to depart for 67 (52).

Raut’s 61-ball stay at the crease then came to an end on 27 when she came down the wicket to Ashleigh Gardner, lofting a catch to mid-off.

Her wicket brought India’s captain and their greatest ODI run-scorer Mithali Raj to the crease. She’d missed the first match through illness but was coming off an outstanding T20 series against South Africa. The 35-year-old found the boundary early, but fell victim to a Perry bouncer, edging behind to the safe gloves of Alyssa Healy.

From there wickets fell at regular intervals. The dangerous Harmanpreet Kaur again failed to get going, out for 17 (26), as did Veda Krishnamurthy (2) and ‘keeper Sushma Verma (8), India’s innings petering out as they were dismissed for 227 in the final over.

QUICK SINGLE Healy, Aussies wary of Indian riposte

With the ball for Australia, Schutt (1-24) was finally rewarded with the late wicket of No.9 Pooja Vastrakar after a brilliant display that heaped the pressure on India, with just 24 runs scored off a 10-over spell that included three maidens.

Jonassen led the wicket-taking with 3-51, while Nicola Carey (1-44) picked up her first wicket in international cricket.

Earlier, India picked up the big wicket of Healy for 19 (37) but had few answers for opening partner Bolton, who carried on her century-making form from the first ODI.

The West Australian looked to be comfortably cruising to back-to-back tons when she was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht, out for 84 (88). Her wicket followed the loss of captain Meg Lanning for 24 (43) and when Rachael Haynes was then dismissed for naught attempting a lap sweep, Australia were 4-144 having lost 3-14.

QUICK SINGLE Aussies wary of new Indian teenage star

Just when the hosts – and the large, vocal home crowd of more than 12,000 people – thought India had finally gained the ascendancy, Perry and Mooney stepped up to steady the ship, Mooney relishing her first opportunity to bat for the series as she raced to a half-century from just 36 deliveries.

Mooney’s whirlwind 56 off 40 came to an end courtesy of a sharp return catch from Shikha Pandey, Perry carrying on to finish unbeaten on 70.

The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on Sunday, March 18.

Commonwealth Bank Tour of India

Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India ODI squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Sushma Verma, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey, Sukanya Parida, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma

India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram.

England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by 321 runs. Report

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by seven wickets. Report

ODI series

First ODI Australia won by eight wickets Scorecard

Second ODI Australia won by 60 runs Scorecard

Third ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 18

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 22

Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31