In the ongoing three-match series between Australia and India women at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on December 30, rising wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh experienced deep disappointment as she fell just 4 runs short of achieving her maiden ODI hundred. Despite grappling with cramps, Richa exhibited remarkable resilience, steering India's chase of 259 and holding the innings together, a stark contrast to several prominent players who failed to convert their starts into significant contributions. However, the hosts' hopes were dashed in the final overs, culminating in a 4-run deficit from the target.
During the critical 44th over, Richa Ghosh aggressively aimed to secure her century by launching a shot towards the cover boundary. Regrettably, her effort off Annabel Sutherland resulted in a catch, landing straight into the hands of Phoebe Litchfield stationed at the 30-yard circle. Clearly frustrated, Richa expressed her disappointment by striking her bat against the ground and punching it several times while making her way back to the pavilion.
Nevertheless, the 20-year-old received a heartwarming tribute from the Wankhede Stadium crowd, who rose to their feet, applauding the wicketkeeper-batter's valiant efforts. Her teammates and head coach Amol Mazumdar, visibly supportive from the dugout, offered consolation to the young player for narrowly missing her century while commending her for the impressive 96 runs she contributed.
Richa's 96 runs marked the fifth-highest score by an Indian batter against Australia in women's ODIs. Her near-miss also kept her just shy of becoming the third wicketkeeper-batter from India to secure a hundred in women's ODIs.
Despite Deepti Sharma's earlier standout performance with a five-wicket haul, her struggle in the later overs, managing only 24 runs off 36 balls, contributed to the tense finish as the Australian bowlers maintained their composure.
In earlier innings, Smriti Mandhana (34) and Jemimah Rodrigues (44) played crucial roles, forging significant partnerships with Richa Ghosh. However, the team faced a setback when captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 5 in the pivotal encounter.
India's batting suffered in the absence of Sneh Rana, the all-rounder undergoing scans following a distressing on-field collision with Pooja Vastrakar during the Australian innings.
