Aussie women thrash India by 221 runs to win series

Australian women whipped their Indian counterparts by a massive margin of 221 runs in the second ODI today to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game bilateral series here.

The visitors, who had won the first game at Ahmedabad two days ago by a narrower margin of 30 runs, proved too good for the hosts at the Wankhede Stadium here as they rattled up an imposing 300 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs and then shot out India for a paltry 79 in only 27.1 overs.

Meg Lanning (128 in 104 balls with a six and 19 fours) and Alex Blackwell (81 in 106 balls with 9 fours), and bowlers medium pacer Ellyse Perry (5 for 19) and left armer Rachael Haynes (3 for 10) excelled for the visitors.

The third wicket duo of Lanning and Blackwell added 180 runs in just over 30 overs to take the game away from the hosts who had reduced the tourists to 47 for 2 at one stage.

The run chase by the Indian eves was pathetic as only two players -- opener Sulakshana Naik (17) and seasoned Mithali Raj (30 in 56 balls with a six and 5 fours) -- could reach double figures.The inconsequential third and final ODI is to be held at the same venue on March 16.

Brief Scores:

Australia: 300 for 7 in 50 overs (Meg Lanning 128, Alex Blackwell 81, Jess Cameron 32; Rumeli Dhar 2/55, Reema Malhotra 2/56).

India: 79 all out in 27.1 overs (Mithali Raj 30 not out; Ellyse Perry 5/19, Rachael Haynes 3/10).