Australia Women delivered a commanding 6-wicket victory over World Cup champions India Women in the opening ODI of their three-match series at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on February 24, 2026. The comprehensive win levelled the multi-format series at four points apiece, drawing Australia level after they trailed 2-4 on points following a 1-2 defeat in the T20I leg.
Schutt and Gardner Set the Tone
Opting to bat first, India made an uncertain start as Megan Schutt, a late inclusion to the squad, struck with the second ball of the innings, trapping Pratika Rawal lbw for a duck. With Shafali Verma promoted to number three to accommodate Rawal’s return from knee and ankle injuries, India struggled to maintain steady partnerships in the early exchanges.
Shafali and Jemimah Rodrigues fell quickly, leaving India wobbling at 52 for 3 inside the first 12 overs. Smriti Mandhana steadied matters with a composed 58 off 68 balls, but she departed in the 38th over when Tahlia McGrath induced a top-edge that Alana King held at fine leg.
Harmanpreet Kaur battled hard for 53 off 84 balls before suffering a left knee injury while batting — a major concern for India ahead of the remaining matches. Kashvee Gautam provided a late flourish with a career-best 43 off 44 balls including the only three sixes of the innings, but India were eventually dismissed for 214 in 48.3 overs. Ashleigh Gardner was the pick of the Australian attack, claiming 3 for 33 from her allotted overs.
Healy and Mooney Chase Down Target With Ease
Skipper Alyssa Healy, who announced this would be her farewell ODI series ahead of her retirement, opened in style with a beautiful straight drive off Renuka Singh Thakur from the very first over. Despite showing some rust in fluency, Healy struck 50 off 70 balls and shared a 55-run opening partnership with Phoebe Litchfield.
When Litchfield was sharply stumped by Richa Ghosh off Shree Charani for 32, Beth Mooney entered and anchored the chase superbly. Mooney finished unbeaten on 76 off 79 balls, combining patience with calculated aggression throughout, while Annabel Sutherland struck an unbeaten 48 to close the game out in style. Australia reached 217 for 4 in 38.2 overs, winning with 70 balls to spare — a statement margin of victory.
Harmanpreet Injury Clouds India’s Outlook
The result overshadowed a significant concern for India as captain Harmanpreet Kaur did not take the field during Australia’s innings following the knee injury she sustained while batting. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana captained the side in the second innings.
The BCCI medical team confirmed they were monitoring her progress ahead of the second ODI scheduled for Hobart on February 27. Losing their captain and talisman to injury could have significant ramifications for India’s campaign in the ODI series and the upcoming Test match in Perth.
Australia Women vs India WomenSeries Context and What’s Next
Australia’s win extended their record at Allan Border Field to 21 consecutive victories at the Brisbane ground — a remarkable statistic that underlines the home team’s fortress mentality at this venue. Despite missing Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth to quad strains, Australia produced a cohesive team effort across departments. India must now regroup and find a way to compete in Hobart if they are to avoid conceding the ODI series with a game to spare. The multi-format series between these two sides remains as competitive as ever, with the balance of the contest — and perhaps Australia Women’s ODI resurgence — hanging on the outcome of the next fixture.
Written by 8JJ.com News Desk | February 25, 2026
Stay updated with 8JJ for Real-Time Sports Scores & Sports Related Updates
🔗 Visit our other platforms:
8jjSports.com
