India’s right-arm seamer, Arundhati Reddy, was the star of the show in the third ODI against Australia on December 11 at W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth. After Australia’s openers, Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield, had laid a solid foundation by putting on a brisk 52-run partnership in just eight overs, Reddy came in to make an immediate impact. Although she was hit for a four off her first delivery by Litchfield, Reddy quickly settled into a rhythm, dismissing both openers in her second over, which set the tone for India’s attack.
Reddy’s first breakthrough came in the form of Voll, who was bamboozled by a brilliant inswinging delivery that crashed into her leg stump, sending her back for just 19 runs. The dismissal of Voll proved to be the turning point, and Reddy followed up with another key wicket in Litchfield. The Australian batter was caught behind by Richa Ghosh for 25, which reduced Australia to 60/2, just as they were starting to build momentum. With two early wickets in hand, Reddy was on a roll and delivered another telling blow when she trapped Ellyse Perry for just 4 runs. Perry was caught off guard by Reddy’s swing and was sent back to the pavilion, leaving Australia reeling at 72/3.
Reddy wasn’t done yet. She continued to exert pressure, claiming the wicket of Beth Mooney for 4 runs, with another sharp catch behind the stumps from Ghosh. With Australia in deep trouble at 78/4 after 16.1 overs, Reddy’s spell had effectively dismantled Australia’s top order. Her final figures of 4/26 in ten overs were a testament to her skill and control, and she had single-handedly put India in a strong position.
Despite the early collapse, Australia’s middle-order batters, Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland, launched a brilliant counter-attack to rebuild the innings. The pair added a crucial 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket, which helped stabilize the Australian batting lineup. Gardner was the first of the two to bring up a milestone, scoring a well-played 50 off 64 balls, with five boundaries. Her knock was a vital contribution, and it provided the stability Australia needed after the early setbacks. However, Gardner’s resilience was short-lived as Deepti Sharma dismissed her, ending her promising knock.
With Gardner’s dismissal, Annabel Sutherland took charge of the innings. She formed another important partnership with Tahlia McGrath, with the duo continuing to play aggressively. Sutherland, in particular, showcased her immense talent and composure, eventually reaching her second ODI century. Her knock of 110 runs off 95 balls was a remarkable innings, featuring nine fours and four sixes. Her explosive innings brought Australia back into the game, and the partnership between Sutherland and McGrath was a game-changer. The pair put together an outstanding 122-run standoff just 95 balls, taking Australia to a strong total.
McGrath, who had played a supporting role throughout the partnership, also played a vital knock, finishing unbeaten on 56* off 50 balls. She struck five boundaries in her innings, and her contributions helped Australia cross the 290-run mark, finishing at 298/6 in their 50 overs. With this, Australia set India a challenging target of 299 runs to avoid a whitewash in the three-match series.
Reddy’s brilliant early spell and the spectacular fightback from Sutherland and McGrath set the stage for an exciting finish. While India’s bowlers did an excellent job early on, Australia’s middle order proved their mettle, and with the match shifting momentum back in favor of the hosts, India would have to work hard to chase down the target. The stage was set for an intense contest, with the final match of the series promising a thrilling finish to the ODI series.
