Mumbai, Dec 30: Electing to bat first, Australia women scored 258/8 in the allotted 50 overs against India in the second ODI of the three-match series at Wankhede Stadium, here on Saturday.
Spinner Deepti Sharma grabbed five wickets for the hosts. She had an enviable bowling figure of 5/38 in her quota of 10 overs.
For the visitors, opener Phoeba Litchfield scored 63 in 98 balls and resisted a potential collapse as Indian bowlers bounced back in the middle overs.
Seasoned campaigner Elyssa Perry scored almost run-a-ball 50. Though excepting all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner (2), all Aussie batter got starts, but baring Litchfield and Perry, others just could not continue for long.
Among Indian bowlers, apart from Deepti's fifer, debutante Shreyanka Patil, Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar also claimed a wicket each.
The Indians tested their first success, when captain Australia skipper Alyssa Healy was bowled by pacer Pooja Vastrakar for 13 in 24 balls.
Prior to Healy's dismissal, a cautious start by Australia with number of reprieves and a series of missed opportunities for hosts marked the initial overs of play.
India vice captain Smriti Mandhana, who missed the first ODI at the same venue on December 28, was back in the squad. However, her regular opening partner Shafali Verma is not playing this match.
Young off-break bowler from Karnataka Shreyanka Patil made her ODI debut for India. She replaced Shaika Ishaque.
Kim Garth replaced Megan Schutt in the Australia XI.
Australia lead the three-match ODI series 1-0, with a 6 wicket win in the first match. The third and final ODI would be played at the same venue on Tuesday.
Brief Scores:
Australia 258/8 in 50 overs (Phoeba Litchfield 63, Elyssa Perry 50, Deepti Sharma 5/38.
