Phoebe Litchfield stars as Australia sweep ODIs against India

A magnificent century from Phoebe Litchfield helped Australia thump India by 190 runs in the third match whitewash the hosts in the three-match ODI series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (January 2). Chasing a mammoth total, none of the Indian batters could make an impact and they were bundled out for 148 in the 33rd over. 

Opting to bat first, captain Alyssa Healy put on a record stand of 189 runs - highest opening partnership against India in ODIs - in the company of Litchfield. Unlike the second ODI, the duo started off well and built on a strong power play with Indian bowlers finding nothing from the surface.

Post power play, the Australian openers took on young Mannat Kashyap, who was making her international debut, to her hit the left-arm spinner for a couple of sixes early on. Healy brought up her first fifty plus score since that hundred in the ICC World Cup 2022 final in New Zealand. 

At the other end, Litchfield continued her splendid form used her feet to come down the track and also reverse swept the spinners with ease. She then proceeded to paddle scoop Amanjot Kaur from the stumps and it was all looking ominous for India.

Then came a productive passage of play for India when Litchfield was in the 90s. Healy chopped the ball onto the stumps off Pooja Vastrakar for 82 and Ellyse Perry's brisk start was ended by Amanjot as she trapped the allrounder in front of the stumps.

From there, young Shreyanka Patil took over and trapped Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath in consecutive deliveries to give India some hope.

However, Litchfield was in no mood to relent and brought up her second international century off 109 balls with a stylish drive off Amanjot for four. Although the southpaw fell for 119 off 125 balls to give Deepti Sharma her 100th wicket in ODIs, the lower order made sure that Australia put up a mammoth score of 338 for 7 from their stipulated 50 overs. 

Alana King once again gave the finishing touches with a quickfire 26 not out off 14 balls even as Shreyanka bowled well at the death using her abilty to bowl full at the wicket.

For India, Shreyanka finished with figures of 3 for 57 from her ten overs while Amanjot picked up two wickets. 

Even though India started decently in the chase with Yastika Bhatia and Smriti Mandhana adding 32 for the opening wicket in five overs, the former struggled to get going and eventually perished while trying to play a scoop from the stumps. Soon Mandhana also walked back to the pavilion after she was caught on deep cover to give Megan Schutt her second wicket.

From there, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals with only Jemimah Rodrigues inspiring any confidence. By the time she fell, India were 95 for 5 and things went further down south from there and they were eventually bowled out in the 34th over.

Brief Scores: Australia 338/7 in 50 overs (Phoebe Litchield 119, Alyssa Healy 82; Shreyanka Patil 3/57) beat India 148/10 in 32.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 29; Georgia Wareham 3/23, Annabel Sutherland 2/9) by 190 runs. POTM: Phoebe Litchfield POTS: Phoebe Litchfield