On this day in 2016: India Women win series for the first time against Australia

India Women led by Mithali Raj toured Australia during the 2015-16 season and were involved in a three-match T20I series. The visitors had never beaten Australia in a bilateral across any format and there was a realistic chance for them to make history after winning the first T20I.

The second T20I was to be played at the iconic and post the brief rain which reduced the game to 18-over per side affair, the toss went India’s way, and the action in the middle also went their way. Jhulan Goswami was the one to rock Australia early dismissing their openers Grace Harris and Beth Mooney with only 28 runs on the board. Ellyse Perry got run-out then and the Indian spinners tied the opposition batters nicely.

India Women’s beat Australia in the 2nd T20I to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series #AUSvINDhttps://t.co/XckdxLsCCV

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 29, 2016

The trio of Anuja Patil, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Poonam Yadav bowled superbly making use of the slow pitch. Harmanpreet Kaur also delivered one over and picked up a crucial wicket of Jess Jonassen. Meg Lanning threatened with her 39-ball 49 but got run-out, the second of the innings, in the 14th over which proved to be the turning point.

Australia never had any momentum in the innings then and could only muster 125/8 in 18 overs. Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings for India and batted well to notch up a half-century stand in less than 8 overs. But the rain arrived when the score was 52/0 which led to India’s target getting adjusted to 66 in 10 overs.

They were already in the driver’s seat and the shortened target didn’t deter them as India romped home with 5 balls in hand. History was created at the MCG as Raj remained unbeaten on 37 while Mandhana mustered 22 runs.