Australia’s record-breaking winning streak is finally over, and two pivotal moments during the run chase are largely to blame.
Australia’s record-breaking winning streak is finally over.
India has defied the odds to secure a nailbiting two-wicket victory in Mackay, avoiding a dreaded whitewash in the three-match ODI series.
And once again, a marginal no-ball contributed to the final outcome.
Sneh Rana smacked a crucial 30 off 27 to help India chase the 265-run target with three balls to spare, but a no-ball involving Aussie all-rounder Nicola Carey proved a pivotal moment at the death.
Déjà vu, anyone?
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India at one stage needed 26 from 25 balls when Rana top-edged a low full toss from Carey, with the Aussie seamer claiming the catch off her own bowling.
But replays showed Carey had overstepped by less than an inch, and Rana was gifted an extra life at the crease.
Rana rubbed salt into the wounds by hitting three crucial boundaries off Tahlia McGrath’s following over, swinging momentum firmly back in India’s favour.
Two days earlier in the second ODI, Australia clinched an unlikely victory thanks largely to a controversial waist-high no-ball from Jhulan Goswami in the final moments of the run chase.
Carey was on strike during that now infamous delivery before hitting the winning runs at Great Barrier Reef Arena.
But on Sunday, Goswami was the player who secured the winning runs, smacking a Sophie Molineux delivery back over the bowler’s head for a boundary.
Sports writer Megan Maurice tweeted: “Personally, I think we’ve had enough controversial, match-defining no balls involving Nicola Carey this series. Give someone else a go Nic.”
The front-ball no-ball unfortunately wasn’t Carey’s only blunder of the afternoon, with the 28-year-old dropping a regulation catch at point off Molineux’s bowling in the 45th over.
Rana was once again the fortuitous batter – she was on 11 at the time.
The Channel 7 commentators noticed Carey turn her head moments before attempting the catch, potentially due to the Queensland sun glaring in her eyes.
Jason Richardson couldn’t help but point out the unused pair of sunglasses sitting on the top of her head.
“That is a disaster for the Aussies,” he said in commentary.
“She turned her head, couldn’t see it, blinded by the light.
“She had those sunnies on the top of her hat, not over her eyes.
“I don’t know if it would have made any difference, but gee, it might have helped.”
Former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar agreed: “Maybe put the glasses on.”
Earlier in the match, Beth Mooney and Ash Gardner posted half-centuries to steer Australia towards 9/264 in the first innings.
Pooja Vastrakar and Goswami snared three wickets each, while McGrath smacked a quick-fire 47 to continue her impressive form with the bat.
In response, Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia both reached fifty as India cruised towards 1/160 in the 30th over.
But a cluster of middle-order wickets set up another thrilling finish in Mackay, with India ultimately holding their nerve to break Australia’s 26-match unbeaten run, which dated back to October 2017.
“I think to be honest it was inevitable at some point that we were going to lose a game,” Australia’s captain Meg Lanning said.
“I just think the class of the teams out there at the moment, it’s always a very close contest and there’s no easy wins.
“So to have the streak as long as we did, I think is an amazing effort over a long period of time. We go out there to win every game and unfortunately didn’t quite get it done, India were too good, but it doesn’t change our mindset in terms of trying to win.”
Teenage phenom Annabel Sutherland impressed on international return, finishing with career-best bowling figures of 3/30 from seven overs.
However, Australia’s bowlers collectively delivered 31 wides in the run chase, which ultimately proved the difference.
To make matters worse for the already-depleted Aussies, three key players picked up injuries during Sunday’s loss just days ahead of the pink-ball Test match.
Hamstring injuries forced Rachael Haynes and Mooney from the field during India’s run chase, while Molineux copped a nasty ball to the face.
The Victorian spinner managed to return to the field soon after, albeit with strapping tape under her schnoz.
Australia’s injury ward already features spinner Jess Jonassen, speedster Yayla Vlaeminck and leggie Georgie Wareham.
Attention now shifts towards the historic day-night Test on the Gold Coast, which gets underway on Thursday.
– with Jasper Bruce, NCA NewsWire
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