Australia vs India: Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner lead hosts to ODI clean sweep

Australia secured a clean sweep in the three-match one-day international series against India with an 83-run win in Perth.

The world champions recovered from 78-4 to post 298-6, with all-rounder Annabel Sutherland striking a masterful 110 from just 95 balls.

India then started positively in pursuit of 299 for victory, reaching 189-3 with opener Smriti Mandhana hitting a sparkling century of her own.

But Mandhana’s dismissal for 105 from 109 balls sparked a collapse of three wickets for no runs as the world champions turned the screw, and India finished 215 all out in 45.1 overs.

Spinner Ash Gardner starred with 5-30, alongside a half-century in a fifth-wicket stand of 96 with Sutherland, who took the player of the match and series awards.

The Australian innings was set up by an opening stand of 58 between youngsters Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll, but Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney fell for four and 10 to give India a chance of fighting back.

But the impressive Sutherland hit nine fours and four sixes in her knock to shift the momentum, with Gardner adding 50 and captain Tahlia McGrath scoring an unbeaten 56.

Despite the eventually comfortable margin of victory, Australia were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field with four dropped catches in India’s innings.

Harleen Deol was dropped twice as she made 39 in a second-wicket stand of 118 with Mandhana, and they also bowled 14 wides.

But India could not capitalise on their chances and their middle order wilted under the run-rate pressure with no other batter managing to pass 20.

Both teams are back in action quickly, with India facing West Indies in a T20 series starting on Sunday and Australia travelling to New Zealand for an ODI series starting on Wednesday 18 December.