Beth Mooney's classy unbeaten 76 guided Australia to a dominant six-wicket victory over India in the first women's one-day international on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. The win leveled the multi-format series at 2-2 after India claimed the T20I leg 2-1 and gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Australia Beat India by Six Wickets in First Women's One-Day
Australia Beat India by Six Wickets in First Women's One-Day International

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first under overcast skies. The visitors struggled early, losing opener Pratika Rawal for a duck in the second ball to Megan Schutt. Shafali Verma followed for 4, and Jemimah Rodrigues departed for 27 as India slipped to 52/3. Smriti Mandhana anchored with a patient 48 off 57 balls before falling to Ashleigh Gardner, while Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 48 before a knee injury forced her retirement hurt.

Richa Ghosh added 33, but India's middle order faltered against disciplined Australian bowling. Gardner took 3/38, Schutt claimed 2/28, and Annabel Sutherland chipped in with key wickets as India were bowled out for 214 in 48.3 overs. The total was modest on a good batting track, with extras limited to 6.

Australia's chase began confidently despite early losses. Phoebe Litchfield fell cheaply, and Alyssa Healy (50) and Georgia Voll steadied the innings before Healy's dismissal. Mooney walked in at No. 4 and dominated, sharing crucial partnerships. She reached her half-century off 58 balls and accelerated with boundaries, finishing unbeaten on 76 off 79 deliveries. Annabel Sutherland provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 40 off 39, including a six off Deepti Sharma to seal the win in 38.2 overs with 70 balls remaining.

Mooney was named player of the match for her composed knock that anchored the chase. "I walked in after a couple of quick wickets and just tried to build," she said post-match. "The wicket was good, and we wanted to chase under lights."

India's fielding and bowling showed promise, but the batting collapse and Harman's injury proved costly. Smriti Mandhana reflected on the defeat: "We didn't capitalize on starts, and the wicket got better for batting later. We'll come back stronger."

The result extended Australia's unbeaten record at Allan Border Field to 21 matches in women's internationals. The hosts now hold momentum heading into the second ODI on Friday at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, followed by the third on Sunday at the same venue.

The multi-format series, part of the ongoing rivalry between the top-ranked Australia and world champions India, features points for T20Is and ODIs, with the overall winner claiming a trophy. India's T20I success had given them an early edge, but Australia's ODI dominance reminded fans of their white-ball prowess.

Key performances included Mooney's control and Gardner's all-round impact. For India, Mandhana and Kaur showed fight, but the middle order needs to step up against Australia's pace and spin attack.

Fans can catch highlights on official broadcasters like Fox Sports in Australia, Star Sports in India, and streaming platforms worldwide. The series continues with high stakes as both teams aim to build toward future global events.

Australia's clinical display sets the tone for the ODIs, while India will look to regroup and address batting consistency. The Hobart clash promises another intense battle in this compelling rivalry.

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