Australia Snatch Last-Gasp Victory Over India by 3 Wickets
In a Wankhede Stadium spectacle that had 32,000 fans on the edge of their seats until the final ball, Australia Women pulled off a stunning three-wicket heist against India Women in Match 13 of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 on October 12. India, powered by a record-breaking 330 all out—the highest total of the tournament—seemed set for a maiden group-stage win over the defending champions, only for Australia’s middle order, spearheaded by Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 86, to mount a blistering counterattack. Needing 331, the visitors crossed the line at 331 for 7 in 49 overs, their last-over heroics leaving India’s bowlers shell-shocked and captain Harmanpreet Kaur in disbelief. This nail-biter marked Australia’s third straight win, their net run rate climbing to +1.678, while India, stunned in front of a home crowd, slipped to their second loss, NRR tumbling to -0.234 as semi-final pressure mounts.
The day-night clash, under Mumbai’s humid glare transitioning to floodlit drama, encapsulated the World Cup’s intensity—India’s batting fireworks met by Australia’s chase mastery. Alyssa Healy’s tactical acumen, including bold promotions and field tweaks, turned a potential collapse into triumph, evoking their 2017 final resilience. For India, opener Smriti Mandhana’s 112 set the tone, but death-over leaks and fielding errors proved fatal. As confetti fell on Mooney amid hugs from teammates, the narrative shifted: Australia’s stranglehold tightens, India’s home dreams dented ahead of South Africa.
Healy’s toss loss forced Australia to chase, but on a batsman-friendly black-soil pitch offering true bounce and short boundaries, it was a gauntlet thrown. India’s XI brimmed with firepower: Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, and Shree Charani. The recall of Rodrigues over Harleen Deol added sweep-heavy intent, while Charani’s leg-spin targeted Australia’s left-handers. Australia, unbeaten, fielded: Healy (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, and Darcie Brown. Perry’s all-round edge over Tahlia McGrath’s pure batting signaled balance, King’s leggies a wrinkle against India’s spin-savvy middle.
Umpires Aleem Dar and Lauren Agenbag whistled play amid chants of “India! India!”, the sea of blue jerseys a cauldron of expectation. Mandhana and Shafali eyed a powerplay blitz, Australia’s seamers—Schutt and Brown—circling like sharks.
India’s innings erupted into a run-fest, their top order treating the new ball like a feather. Mandhana, fresh from a lean patch, unleashed from the get-go: she carved Schutt through point for four in the second over, her lofted cover drive off Brown a statement six over long-off. Shafali Verma, the dasher, complemented with aggression—pulling Brown for four and flicking Sutherland through square leg. The powerplay exploded to 68 for no loss, boundaries flowing like monsoon rain: Mandhana’s 32 off 18 at the stage, Shafali’s 25 off 15. Wankhede’s short square boundary aided the assault, Australia’s outfielders chasing shadows.
The first check came at 85 for 1 in the 13th: Shafali, on 37 off 32, edged King’s googly to Healy, her reverse-sweep attempt undone by sharp turn. Rodrigues joined Mandhana, and the duo danced: Rodrigues swept Jonassen fine for four, Mandhana lofted Gardner over extra cover for six. Their 98-run stand off 78 balls was symphony—Mandhana’s fifty off 42 balls, Rodrigues’ crisp drives pushing to 183 for 1 by the 25th over. Drinks saw India rampant, required rate a footnote in dominance.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s arrival ignited further: she slog-swept King for six, her bottom-hand power converting dots to boundaries. Mandhana’s century—her 10th in ODIs—arrived off 74 balls in the 31st, a flicked four off Perry drawing roars that shook the stands. But Australia clawed back: Perry’s slower ball deceived Rodrigues, bowled for 48 off 52—231 for 2 in the 33rd. Richa Ghosh exploded next, pulling Gardner for six and driving Schutt straight, her 25 off 15 a cameo of muscle.
At 265 for 2 after 38 overs, 400 loomed, but Australia’s spinners spun gold. Gardner removed Harmanpreet—caught at deep midwicket for 31 off 24, attempting a slog—then Deepti Sharma, stumped off King’s wide leg-break for 8. Ghosh holed out to long-on off Jonassen for 28, triggering a slide: Amanjot Kaur skied Brown to cover for 5, Sneh Rana dragged Schutt onto her stumps for 0—280 for 7 in 43 overs. Renuka (1 off 2) and Reddy (4 off 3) scratched, Charani unbeaten on 2 as India collapsed to 330 all out in 48.2 overs, the last five wickets tumbling for 45. Australia’s bowlers—Gardner 3-62, King 2-68—contained the carnage, but 47 extras (wides galore) inflated the total. Mandhana, Player of the Match for innings, said, “We posted big, but execution in the field slipped.”
Australia’s chase was a high-wire act from the outset, needing 331—their highest ODI pursuit—against a fired-up Indian attack. Healy and Litchfield opened cautiously, Renuka’s swing extracting edges but no breakthroughs: Healy nurdled a four off Reddy, Litchfield flicked Charani fine. The powerplay yielded 48 for 1—Litchfield bowled by Deepti’s arm ball for 18 off 25, her middle stump rattled. McGrath joined Healy, and urgency brewed: McGrath drove Renuka through covers, Healy swept Sneh for four. Their 62-run stand off 72 balls steadied to 110 for 1 at 20 overs, but Deepti’s return struck—Healy lbw to a straighter one for 38 off 48, the review confirming impact.
Perry arrived, her poise a balm: she lofted Amanjot over mid-on for six, driving Charani straight. McGrath reached fifty off 62 balls, but fell to a Harmanpreet direct hit run-out at 172 for 3 in the 30th—52 off 67, a mix-up with Perry costing dear. Mooney joined Perry, and the duo ignited: Mooney’s sweeps against Deepti—four boundaries in an over—pushed the rate above seven. Perry’s cover drives off Renuka flowed, her fifty off 48 balls a masterclass. At 230 for 3 after 35 overs, 101 needed off 90, Australia eyed history.
India’s spinners clawed: Sneh deceived Perry with drift, caught at slip by Mandhana for 54 off 54—244 for 4 in the 38th. Sutherland’s arrival was fiery—she pulled Charani for six—but Reddy’s bouncer induced a top-edge to Ghosh for 12 off 8. Gardner scratched 5 before edging Deepti to slip, 265 for 6 in 42nd—Jonassen run-out next at 278 for 7 in 44th, a direct throw from Rodrigues. Needing 53 off 36, with King (0*) and Mooney at the crease, panic gripped Wankhede.
Mooney, the finisher, took charge: she reverse-swept Sneh for four, then lofted Renuka over point for six—her fifty off 52 balls now a chase talisman. King supported with singles, surviving lbw shouts. At 300 for 7 after 47 overs, 31 off 18, Deepti’s over leaked 12—wides and a no-ball—but her yorker kept it tight. Needing 19 off 12, Renuka returned: Mooney carved four, then a scampered two. Schutt, promoted as nightwatch, scratched a single before falling? No, King faced the heat—edging but safe. Last over: 10 needed off 6, Renuka bowling. Mooney smashed four off the first, single next; King nudged two, then a dot. Final ball: King dabbed single to third man—Australia home, Mooney 86* off 78 (9 fours, 2 sixes), King 12* off 14. Deepti’s 3-58 heroic, but 28 extras doomed India.
Healy, beaming, said, “Beth’s composure won it; we backed our depth.” Mooney added, “Pressure? Fuel for fire.” Harmanpreet rued, “330 should win; extras and no wickets in death hurt.”
The shockwaves reshaped the table. Australia’s comeback vaults them atop, unbeaten and chasing beasts—Mooney’s knock their fourth 80+ in chases this year. Perry’s 54 extended her streak, Gardner’s 3-62 a spin sentinel. India, hosts humbled, face scrutiny: Mandhana’s 112 (12 fours, 3 sixes) a silver lining, but bowling averages 6.50 balloon. Rodrigues’ return vindicated, yet depth falters. South Africa next: must-win or peril.
This epic transcended stats—a testament to Australia’s never-say-die, India’s home fire doused but not extinguished. Wankhede’s roars turned to silence, then respect; the World Cup, richer for it, marches on.
