<p class="title">Riding on Mithali Raj's record-setting, unbeaten hundred, India 'A' defeated their Australian counterparts by 28 runs to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The victory meant that the third and final match, also to be played at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla facility will be of academic interest only.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Veteran Mithali, who opened the innings along with Smriti Mandhana, was the cynosure as she tormented the Aussie bowlers in her whirlwind 105-run unbeaten knock which came off just 61 balls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On her way, the right-handed batswoman recorded the highest score by an Indian woman in T20Is surpassing 102 earlier scored by Smriti.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While she completed her fifty in 31 balls, Mithali notched her hundred in just 59 balls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mithali's knock ensured that the hosts piled up a massive 184 for five in their alloted 20 overs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">And later the Indian bowlers restricted the visitors to 156 for nine, ensuring the team's win.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Smriti (1), Jemimah Rodrigues (5), D Hemalatha (2) and Anuja Patil (0) fell cheaply, but that did not deter Mithali, who struck 18 boundaries and a six in her entertaining innings.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mithali, one of the best batters in women's cricket in the world, stamped her class and also tuned up well for the World T20, which commences in the Caribbean next month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (57 off 33 balls) ably supported Mithali as the two stitched a stand of 85 and ensured that the hosts went past the 175-run mark. Kaur's knock was laced with six fours and three sixes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Aussies were never in the hunt in the chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Opener Tahila McGrath (47) showed some resistance but without support of partners as the Indian bowlers ticked all the boxes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Off-spinner Deepti Sharma (2/32), Poonam Yadav (2-29) and Anuja Patil (2-31) led the wicket hunt while Radha Yadav, Pooja Vastrakar and Harmanpreet Kaur grabbed a wicket each.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brief scores: India 'A' 184/5 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 105 n.o., Harmanpreet Kaur 57; Tahila McGrath 2-36) bt Australia 'A' 156/9 20 overs (Tahila McGrath 47; Poonam Yadav 2-29). </p>
<p class="title">Riding on Mithali Raj's record-setting, unbeaten hundred, India 'A' defeated their Australian counterparts by 28 runs to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The victory meant that the third and final match, also to be played at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla facility will be of academic interest only.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Veteran Mithali, who opened the innings along with Smriti Mandhana, was the cynosure as she tormented the Aussie bowlers in her whirlwind 105-run unbeaten knock which came off just 61 balls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On her way, the right-handed batswoman recorded the highest score by an Indian woman in T20Is surpassing 102 earlier scored by Smriti.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While she completed her fifty in 31 balls, Mithali notched her hundred in just 59 balls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mithali's knock ensured that the hosts piled up a massive 184 for five in their alloted 20 overs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">And later the Indian bowlers restricted the visitors to 156 for nine, ensuring the team's win.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Smriti (1), Jemimah Rodrigues (5), D Hemalatha (2) and Anuja Patil (0) fell cheaply, but that did not deter Mithali, who struck 18 boundaries and a six in her entertaining innings.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mithali, one of the best batters in women's cricket in the world, stamped her class and also tuned up well for the World T20, which commences in the Caribbean next month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (57 off 33 balls) ably supported Mithali as the two stitched a stand of 85 and ensured that the hosts went past the 175-run mark. Kaur's knock was laced with six fours and three sixes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Aussies were never in the hunt in the chase as they lost wickets at regular intervals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Opener Tahila McGrath (47) showed some resistance but without support of partners as the Indian bowlers ticked all the boxes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Off-spinner Deepti Sharma (2/32), Poonam Yadav (2-29) and Anuja Patil (2-31) led the wicket hunt while Radha Yadav, Pooja Vastrakar and Harmanpreet Kaur grabbed a wicket each.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brief scores: India 'A' 184/5 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 105 n.o., Harmanpreet Kaur 57; Tahila McGrath 2-36) bt Australia 'A' 156/9 20 overs (Tahila McGrath 47; Poonam Yadav 2-29). </p>