India didn’t enjoy a superb campaign in the Women’s World Cup 2025 but were lucky to earn victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. However, they slipped in their third encounter of the event against the South Africa side due to the poor show from their top order in the batting department. The majority of their work gets left to the lower order.

However, there was a change for their fourth fixture against Australia at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal provided them a solid start with the bat, thanks to the 155-run opening stand as both recorded their respective half-centuries to offer a strong platform with the bat.

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On the last ball of the 29th over, an interesting incident took place in the middle. Annabel Sutherland used his fingers to vary the pace of the ball at Pratika Rawal, who swept the ball on her knees but couldn’t get a connection on the ball. That was also the case with the wicket-keeper. Alyssa Healy, who failed to grab the ball with her gloves.

Watch: Alyssa Healy’s mistake gives India five penalty runs during IND-W vs AUS-W Women's World Cup 2025 clash

The ball went under Healy and hit the wicket-keeper’s helmet before rolling towards the boundary. That provided the Indian side a penalty of five runs as the ICC rule suggests. That’s a reason why sometimes the keepers send their helmets back to the dressing room when they keep wickets against the pacers.

 

 

 

 

 

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After Harmanpreet and Rawal’s respective half-centuries, India struggled a little in the middle order. Harleen Deol ended with 38 runs in 42 balls, while their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, smashed 22 runs in 17 balls with the help of three boundaries.

However, they got the acceleration at the right time from Jamimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh. They put up a partnership of over 50 runs in less than five overs, which put enormous pressure on Healy and her team. India inched close to the 300-run mark and aimed to get near 350 to post a challenge to the opposition on a flat batting surface.