India has been set a 299-run target for victory after Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland smacked a second ODI century in sweltering conditions at the WACA on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old’s career-best 110 (95), which featured nine boundaries and four sixes, steered Australia towards an imposing 6-298, the highest team total at the Perth venue in women’s ODIs.
Sutherland also cracked a double-century at the WACA during this year’s Test match against South Africa.
Indian seamer Arundhati Reddy, who wasn’t selected for the first two ODIs, ripped through Australia’s top order in a career-best performance before Sutherland revived the innings, receiving support from fellow all-rounders Ash Gardner (50 from 64 deliveries) and Tahlia McGrath (56 not out from 50 balls).
Reddy, who only conceded two boundaries, finished with 4-26 from ten overs, the best figures by a visiting bowler against Australia in women’s ODIs this century.
Annabel Sutherland of Australia. Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images
Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll got the hosts off to flying start after India won the toss and chose to bowl first, combining for a 58-run partnership before Reddy dismissed both openers in the 11th over, which prompted a brief collapse of 4-20 from 35 balls.
Later in her golden spell, Reddy produced an absolute peach that knocked over Australian superstar Ellyse Perry for 4 – the ball swung in before nipping away from the right-hander, kissing the outside edge before flicking the top of off stump. A few minutes later, Beth Mooney feathered behind for 10 to leave Australia in a spot of bother at 4-78 in the 17th over.
However, Reddy was denied a fifth wicket when teammate Jemimah Rodrigues dropped a low chance at mid-on, handing Gardner an early reprieve on 3. Not long after, Sutherland was put down by point-fielder Minnu Mani on 12, which proved a costly error.
Sutherland and Gardner steadied the ship with a 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket before spinner Deepti Sharma broke the stand in the 34th over, with Gardner slicing a short delivery towards point.
Captain McGrath joined Sutherland at the crease, with the duo clobbering a rapid 122 runs during the death overs to topple the Australian record for highest sixth-wicket partnership in women’s ODIs.
Sutherland, who reached triple figures in the final over with a massive six, was run out on the penultimate delivery of the innings.
