India Women Team fined for slow over-rate in 2nd ODI as Australia clinches series sweep

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has been fined 10% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second ODI of their ICC Women’s Championship series against Australia. The charges, brought under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for minimum over-rate offences, were accepted by Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, negating the need for a formal hearing.

The match, held in Brisbane, saw Australia set a record total of 371/8, their highest-ever score against India. India managed only 249 in response, losing by 122 runs. The on-field umpires, Claire Polosak and Donovan Koch, along with third umpire Jacqueline Williams and fourth umpire David Taylor, determined the over-rate breach. Players are fined 5% of their match fee for each over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

In the third and final ODI of the series, held in Perth, Australia completed a 3-0 series sweep. Ashleigh Gardner delivered a historic performance, becoming the first Australian—male or female—to achieve a five-wicket haul in all formats of the game. Gardner’s 5/30 dismantled India’s chase, despite Smriti Mandhana’s counter-attacking century, her ninth in ODIs. Mandhana’s efforts offered hope as India reached 189/3 before Gardner triggered a collapse, reducing the visitors to 215 all out.

Gardner’s feat adds to her previous accomplishments, including an 8/66 haul in Test cricket against England (2023) and 5/12 in a T20I against New Zealand at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (2023). Earlier in the match, Australia recovered from a precarious 78/4 after a strong start from India’s Arundhati Reddy. Annabel Sutherland and Gardner forged a crucial 96-run stand for the fifth wicket, with Sutherland crafting a composed 110 off 95 balls. Tahlia McGrath’s unbeaten 56 further boosted Australia’s total to 298/6.

Australia’s dominance in the series strengthened their lead at the top of the ICC Women’s Championship standings with 34 points. They now head into their final three matches of the cycle against New Zealand, poised to secure a third consecutive title.

India, sitting third in the standings, has six ODIs remaining—three each against West Indies and Ireland. To stay in contention for their maiden ICC Women’s Championship title, India must secure most of their remaining matches and rely on favorable outcomes in other fixtures.