On Friday (August 15) in Brisbane, India bowler Tanuja Kanwar hit a from No.8 to help India A seal an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match unofficial women’s ODI series against Australia A.
Tanuja Kanwar scores match-winning half-century from No.8
Kanwar arrived at the crease with India A struggling at 157-6 after Minnu Mani’s dismissal for 3. She led the charge with a 57-ball 50, hitting three fours and was involved in a crucial eighth-wicket stand with Prema Rawat. Their 62-run partnership featured Kanwar’s 36 and Rawat’s 29, steering India A closer to victory.
Yastika Bhatia, who top-scored in the innings with 66, also shared a 68-run partnership with captain Radha Yadav, who went on to score 60. Their stand consumed 80 balls – 18 deliveries more than the decisive 62-ball partnership between Kanwar and Rawat.
With five runs needed off the final over, Kanwar was dismissed off the first ball, leaving India A eight down. However, a wide and a leg bye from Ella Hayward reduced the equation to three off three balls. Rawat sealed the win with a double followed by a single, clinching victory with one ball and two wickets to spare.
Also read: India A Women in Australia 2025: Schedule, squads and where to watch the unofficial ODIs live
Kanwar, the 28-year-old left-arm spinner, has yet to score a List A fifty in her career. In 88 matches, she averages 14.65 with the bat, with a highest score of 44. Her first-class record (11 matches) is similarly modest, averaging 10.46 without a fifty.
However, in women’s T20s, she has crossed the milestone twice: A 32-ball 54* for Himachal Pradesh vs Delhi (Inter-State Women’s T20 Competition 2018/19) and a 43-ball 51 for India Women D vs India Women B (Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy 2024/25).
Her recent fifty against won’t count in official records due to the match’s unofficial status. Still, the achievement remains noteworthy given it came against an attack that had a couple of Australia first-teamers in Darcie Brown and Kim Garth.
India A Women seal 50-over series with one match to spare
In the first innings, Australia A posted 265-9, veteran Alyssa Healy top-scoring with 91 – her highest score of the series. Garth contributed a valuable unbeaten 41 from No. 8, while Kanwar claimed 1-40 in seven overs, including the key wicket of opposition captain Tahlia McGrath (15). The standout bowler for the tourists was, however, Mani, who took 3-46.
2nd unofficial ODI, Australia A Women vs India A Women
vs
- Ball by ball Over
After being whitewashed 3-0 in the preceding T20 series, India will aim to reverse the result in their favour when they face Australia in the third and final unofficial ODI on Sunday (August 17).
Image credit: Fancode
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