AUS-W Fight Back: 19-Run Win Ties Series 1-1.
Thrilling Contest at Manuka Oval: Australia Bounce Back in Style On Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia Women leveled the three-match T20I series against India Women with a hard-fought 19-run victory in the second game.
Chasing 164, India Women collapsed dramatically in the middle overs despite a promising start, finishing at 144/9 in their 20 overs. The result brings the T20I series to 1-1 and evens the multi-format series points at 2-2, setting up a decisive third T20I at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, February 21. 
Georgia Voll starred with a magnificent 88 off 57 balls (11 fours, 1 six, SR 154.39), anchoring Australia's innings with a record 128-run opening stand alongside Beth Mooney (46 off 39). India's bowlers, led by Arundhati Reddy (2/30), fought back superbly in the death overs to restrict Australia to 163/5 after they looked set for 200 at one stage. In the chase, India reached 65/1 in the ninth over but lost six wickets for just seven runs in a catastrophic collapse. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with 36 off 30, but Ashleigh Gardner's 3/22 and contributions from Kim Garth (2 wickets), Annabel Sutherland (2), and Sophie Molineux (2) sealed the deal. The match showcased Australia's bowling resilience under new captain Molineux, who celebrated her first win in charge. Georgia Voll celebrates during her match-defining 88 off 57 balls at Manuka Oval. Pre-Match Buildup: Series Context and Team News India had taken a 1-0 lead in the T20I series (and 4-2 overall in the multi-format) with a 21-run DLS win in the rain-affected opener in Sydney on February 15. Australia, world No. 1 and missing Alyssa Healy (injured), named Sophie Molineux as captain for the series. The hosts aimed to bounce back on a flat Manuka Oval pitch, known for high-scoring games. 
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to field first, banking on their bowling strength. Playing XIs reflected balanced lineups: Australia featured Voll opening, Mooney keeping, and big-hitters like Ellyse Perry and Gardner. India relied on Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet, Richa Ghosh, and all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Reddy. The multi-format series added stakes—each T20I worth 2 points, with the decider crucial for momentum ahead of potential ODIs.
Australia Innings: Voll and Mooney's Record Stand Sets the Platform Australia openers Voll and Mooney provided a dream start. Voll, filling Healy's shoes, was aggressive from the outset, reaching her fifty off 31 balls. The pair added 128 for the first wicket—the highest opening stand for Australia against India in women's T20Is—taking the score to 128/0 after 14.5 overs. Mooney's composed 46 included elegant drives, surpassing Meg Lanning as Australia's leading T20I run-scorer during her knock. Voll dominated with power-hitting, punishing anything loose. India struck back in the death: Reddy removed Mooney (caught Shafali) and Voll (holed out to deep midwicket off a full delivery). Phoebe Litchfield (6), Perry (late cameo), and Georgia Wareham fell quickly as India restricted the last five overs effectively. Australia finished at 163/5—solid but below the 180+ they threatened. 
Beth Mooney (L) and Georgia Voll built a 128-run opening partnership, Australia's best vs India Women.
India Chase: Strong Start Crumbles into Collapse
India's chase began positively. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana added quick runs before Verma fell (57/1). Mandhana (caught) and Jemimah Rodrigues followed, leaving India 71/3.
Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh rebuilt, reaching 126/3. But Garth's 17th over broke the 55-run stand: Ghosh (caught Sutherland), then Harmanpreet (caught Molineux off slower ball, 126/4).
The collapse was swift: Deepti Sharma, Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, and Shree Charani fell cheaply—six wickets for seven runs. Gardner's leg-spin choked the middle order. India ended at 144/9, 19 short.
Ashleigh Gardner celebrates one of her three wickets as India collapsed in the chase.
Key Performances and Player of the Match
Georgia Voll (88 off 57): Player of the Match. Career-best T20I score, anchoring with fluency and power. Her 154.39 SR set the tone.
Beth Mooney (46 off 39): Record partnership builder, milestone moment.
Ashleigh Gardner (3/22): Clinical in the middle overs, breaking partnerships.
Kim Garth: Key 17th over (2 wickets), pressure builder.
Harmanpreet Kaur (36 off 30): India's top scorer, but couldn't finish.
Arundhati Reddy (2/30): Excellent death bowling for India. 
Fall of wickets (India): 57-1 (Verma), 65-2 (Rodrigues), 71-3 (Mandhana), 126-4 (Harmanpreet), 128-5 (Ghosh), 128-6 (Deepti), 131-7 (Reddy), 132-8 (Amanjot), 133-9 (Charani).
Post-Match Reactions
Sophie Molineux: "It was a good game. Voll set it up, India came hard, but we held our nerve. Proud of the bowlers. We learned from the first game."
Harmanpreet Kaur: "It happens in chases sometimes—you collapse. We should have taken more responsibility batting. Keeping them to 163 was positive, but we needed one batter to go deep."
Georgia Voll: "Nice to level the series. Soph did a great job—told us to stick with it. A couple of wickets always put pressure on."
Analysis: What Went Right and Wrong Australia's win highlighted their depth: strong top-order batting backed by disciplined bowling. Voll's emergence is timely post-Healy. The collapse showed India's vulnerability under pressure—starts without finishes. India's positives: death bowling restricted Australia, partnerships early in chase. But middle-order fragility cost them. The series decider in Adelaide promises fireworks. 
Stats: Australia's 128-run opening stand (record vs India). Voll's 88 highest by an Australian opener in recent T20Is. Gardner's figures among best in series.
Decider Awaits in Adelaide
This see-sawing contest underlined the competitiveness between the top two sides. Australia regained momentum under Molineux, while India will seek redemption. With the multi-format series tied, the third T20I on February 21 at Adelaide Oval will decide bragging rights.
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