Yastika Bhatia’s 112 in Mohali goes in vain as Australia A chase down 341 to win by two wickets

Yastika Bhatia scored a battling 112 for India A against Australia A in the second unofficial ODI in Mohali on Wednesday, but her innings could not prevent a two-wicket defeat for India A.

Bhatia’s century arrived amid a campaign to regain a place in India’s limited-overs plans after she was omitted from both the Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games squads following India’s early exit from the T20 World Cup. India had made only one change to the Asian Games selection from their World Cup group, with Yastika making way for G Kamalini, and she was also left out of the Asia Cup squad despite a strong red-ball showing at Lord’s.

In July, Bhatia became the first woman batter to have her name on the Lord’s Test batting honours board after scoring 113 against England in the one-off Test. She also produced notable scores in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League for Trinbago Knight Riders, making 35 off 28 on debut and an unbeaten 57 off 34 against Jamaica Empress, and returned to India A duty among the tournament’s leading run-scorers.

Bhatia entered the innings at 118 for two and manufactured control with aggression, striking 16 fours and two sixes in an 84-ball knock. She brought up her hundred as India A passed 300 before her dismissal, anchoring the middle phase of the innings.

Support came from Tejal Hasabnis, who made 60, while Anushka Sharma finished unbeaten on 60 as India A reached 338 for six. The total set a challenging target that ultimately proved reachable.

Australia A’s chase was paced by captain Tahlia Wilson’s 79 off 77 balls, with quickfire contributions from Anika Learoyd (54 off 29) and Charli Knott (63 off 37) that shifted the momentum decisively. Hayley Silver-Holmes added 47 as the visitors kept up the required rate.

India’s bowlers were led by Minnu Mani with three wickets, and Sayali Satghare and Niki Prasad with two apiece, but Australia A held their nerve at the death. Milly Illingworth’s unbeaten 22 off 14 and Darcie Brown’s unbeaten 2 ensured Australia A reached 341 for eight in 49.3 overs to win by two wickets with three balls to spare.

The result was a disappointment for India A, but Bhatia’s 112 was another prominent individual performance as she continues to press for a return to India’s limited-overs setup.