Beth Mooney Blasts Record ODI Century, India Reeling

Beth Mooney delivered a sensational masterclass with the bat as Australia overwhelmed India in the third and final ODI at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. The opener’s explosive performance left the home side stunned, raising serious concerns ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup.

Electing to bat first, Alyssa Healy’s team unleashed a relentless assault on the Indian bowlers, racking up 77 runs in the powerplay. Mooney’s aggression only intensified as she raced to her century in just 57 balls, equaling the record for the joint second-fastest hundred in women’s ODI history, alongside Karen Rolton. Only former captain Meg Lanning has been faster, reaching her ton in 45 balls against New Zealand in Sydney during the 2012–13 season.

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Mooney’s innings ultimately ended at 138 runs off 75 balls, dismissed in the 45th over after India’s Deepti Sharma caught Grace Harris off her bowling. Despite glimpses of intent from the Indian attack later in the innings, they conceded the highest total in ODI cricket history, surpassing their previous worst of 371 runs against Australia in December 2024.

The comprehensive defeat exposes glaring flaws in India’s bowling strategy, highlighting urgent areas for improvement ahead of the ODI World Cup, starting in 10 days. The Indian batters now face a steep challenge but will aim to bounce back and prove their mettle in the tournament.