In what can only be described as a cricketing spectacle, the third ODI between India Women and Australia Women at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on September 2025, will be remembered for its sheer audacity, record-breaking feats, and breathtaking performances.
The match, part of the Australia Women Tour of India ODI Series 2025, witnessed scores tumbling, records being rewritten, and history being made all in a game that had everything a cricket fan could wish for.
Australia set the tone in the first innings, posting a colossal 412 in 47.5 overs, equalling their highest-ever ODI total recorded in 1997 against Denmark and marking the highest total ever scored against India Women. Beth Mooney led the charge with a scintillating 138 off 75 balls, marking the joint second-fastest century in Women’s ODI history. The Australian innings, bolstered by aggressive Strokeplay and clinical finishing, was powered by contributions across the lineup, with Kim Garth and Grace Harris also providing crucial support.
Chasing 412 the highest target India Women had ever faced seemed a daunting task. Yet, the Indian batters responded with an innings of equal bravado, producing 369 runs in 47 overs their highest ODI total against Australia and the first time India Women crossed 300 in an ODI against the Aussies. Smriti Mandhana, India’s star opener, once again displayed why she is considered one of the best in the world, smashing a record-breaking 50-ball century, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 52-ball ODI ton against Australia from 2013.
Deepti Sharma anchored the innings with a composed 72 off 58 balls, while Mandhana’s explosive form set the tone for what became one of the highest-scoring ODIs in women’s cricket history. The match, featuring a cumulative total of 781 runs, became the highest aggregate in a women’s List A game ever, overtaking Bengal’s 779 against Haryana at Rajkot in 2024.
Smriti Mandhana: Fastest Indian Century Ever
Mandhana’s 50-ball century wasn’t just another milestone it was a statement. She became the fastest Indian ever to hit an ODI century, men or women, doing so against the best team in the world, Australia. This innings also marked her fourth century in 2025, underlining a period of sustained dominance for India’s star batter.
Her innings was a mix of calculated aggression and fearless strokeplay, with crisp drives, lofted shots, and precise placement that left the Australian bowlers scrambling. In the process, she not only broke Kohli’s 12-year-old record but also became the centerpiece of India’s chase in this historic encounter.
In doing so, Mandhana showcased that women’s cricket can produce feats every bit as awe-inspiring as the men’s game, challenging skeptics who dismiss records based on gender. Against the strongest opposition, on a record-breaking pitch, she proved that her accomplishments are no less than extraordinary.
Despite Mandhana’s heroics and India’s highest-ever ODI total against Australia, the chase fell short by 43 runs, giving Australia a 2-1 series win. The decisive moment came when Voll took a crucial catch, sealing a remarkable victory for the visitors. While the result might have disappointed Indian fans, the performance itself was a testament to the resilience, skill, and fighting spirit of the Indian team.
The chase was historic on multiple fronts, India scored 369 in a record run-laden women’s List A match, breaking past 300 for the first time against Australia.
Smriti Mandhana’s 50-ball century became the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian ever.The match set a new highest aggregate in women’s List A cricket, with 781 runs scored in just 94.5 overs.
Australia’s innings, led by Beth Mooney, and India’s chase together turned the game into a showcase of modern women’s cricket fast-paced, high-scoring, and thrilling until the last ball.
The match also held added significance as both teams prepared for the Women’s World Cup 2025, starting September 30. India’s performance, despite the loss, sent a clear signal: the side is capable of competing against the very best and can post mammoth totals under pressure.
Australia made strategic changes to their lineup, bringing in Kim Garth and Grace Harris while resting Darcie Brown and Annabel Sutherland. India fielded the same eleven players that had competed in the earlier matches, showing faith in the squad’s core strength. The performance was also historic in terms of statistical milestones: India became the first side to score 300+ runs in an ODI innings against Australia Women, breaking England’s previous record of 298/8 at Hamilton during the 2022 World Cup.
Records That Tumbled
The match was a veritable festival of records:
- Australia’s highest ODI total: 412/5.
- India’s highest ODI total against Australia: 369/8.
- Highest match aggregate in women’s List A cricket: 781 runs.
- Fastest ODI century by an Indian batter: Smriti Mandhana, 50 balls.
- Second-fastest WODI century: Beth Mooney, 57 balls.
These milestones underscore the evolution and growing competitiveness of women’s cricket, illustrating that high-octane cricket is no longer confined to men’s matches.
While Australia clinched the series 2-1, India’s performance in the third ODI provides a strong platform for the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2025. Smriti Mandhana, in particular, has announced herself as a central figure to watch, continuing a period of extraordinary form. The Indian team will carry the lessons, experience, and confidence gained from this match into the World Cup, knowing they can chase mammoth totals and take on the world’s best.
The third ODI between India and Australia will be remembered not for the series outcome but for the spectacle of cricket it produced. Records tumbled, centuries were blasted, and history was rewritten. Smriti Mandhana’s 50-ball century, India’s highest-ever ODI total against Australia, and the combined 781 runs scored make this match a landmark in women’s cricket history.
This is cricket at its finest: fearless, record-breaking, and inspiring a reminder that brilliance knows no gender. And for fans of Indian cricket, Smriti Mandhana’s innings is a beacon of hope, excellence, and the future of the sport.
