Illingworth seals tense chase as Australia A level one-day series

Australia A have pulled off a remarkable run chase to beat India A by two wickets in a 679-run thriller in Mohali, levelling the three-match women's one-day series at 1-1.

Set 339 after Yastika Bhatia's commanding 112 from 84 balls, Australia A reached 8-341 in 49.3 overs, Victorian Milly Illingworth (22no off 14) sealing the win with a boundary through square leg after the innings had threatened to unravel late.

India A's innings was built around Bhatia, who arrived after openers Priya Punia (36 from 32) and Tanisha Singh (37 from 49) had put on 58 after the home side opted to bat at IS Bindra Stadium.

Captain and wicketkeeper Bhatia then added 124 with Tejal Hasabnis, accelerating through an innings featuring 16 fours and two sixes before Darcie Brown removed her in the 36th over.

Hasabnis made 60 from 66 balls, while Anushka Sharma's unbeaten 60 from 46 ensured the platform was converted into a formidable total.

Brown was the standout for the visitors with 3-39 from eight overs, including three wickets in her final three overs, while Illingworth claimed 2-44.

Australia A lost Nicole Faltum for 12 but refused to let the required rate climb. Anika Learoyd changed the tempo with a blistering 54 from 29 balls, striking nine fours and two sixes, before Tahlia Wilson and Charli Knott carried the chase beyond 200 inside 25 overs.

Knott's 63 came from only 37 deliveries and included three sixes, while captain Wilson anchored the pursuit with 79 from 77. But when Minnu Mani removed Knott, Katie Mack and Wilson in the space of 35 balls, Australia A slipped from 2-202 to 5-219 and the hosts regained control.

Tess Flintoff (38 from 43) and Hayley Silver-Holmes (47 from 51) rebuilt with a 65-run stand, keeping the tourists within range even as the equation tightened. Niki Prasad dismissed Flintoff and Lilly Mills, then Sayali Satghare bowled Silver-Holmes with 18 still needed from 11 balls.

Illingworth answered with two sixes and a four in her unbeaten cameo, finding the runs Australia A needed alongside Brown (2no) with three balls to spare.

It was a sharp turnaround after India A had won the opening one-dayer by four wickets with almost nine overs in the bank, leaving Friday's third match in Mohali as the series decider.

Meanwhile, the tour's four-day fixture, scheduled for September 29-October 2, has been moved from Dharamshala to Mohali's IS Bindra Stadium due to the impact prolonged rainfall has had on the playing surface in the hillside city at the edge of the Himalayas.

Australia A tour of India 2026 – women

Australia A squad: Darcie Brown, Maitlan Brown, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Sianna Ginger, Charli Knott, Anika Learoyd, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Frankie Nicklin, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Rachel Trenaman, Courtney Webb, Tahlia Wilson, Tayla Vlaeminck

First T20: Australia A won by six wickets

Second T20: Australia A won by 30 runs

Third T20: Australia A won by seven runs

First one-dayer: India A won by four wickets

Second one-dayer: Australia A won by two wickets

Third one-dayer: September 25, IS Bindra Stadium, 6:30pm AEST (D/N)

Four-dayer: September 29 – October 2, IS Bindra Stadium, 2pm AEST