Rolton helps Australia clinch series

Australia 173 (Goszko 47, Al Khader 4-41) beat India 161 (Chopra 66, Rolton 4-29) by 12 runs
Scorecard

Karen Rolton's four vital wickets helped Australia edge India by 12 runs in a close second game at Adelaide and clinch the three-match series with a game to play. The Indian women, who came off a thrashing in the opening game, put up an impressive performance, but their inability to soak in the late-overs pressure did them in.

Mithali Raj, the India captain, appeared to have made a good decision at the toss by inserting Australia as her bowlers struck at regular intervals. Nooshin Al Khader, the offspinner, bagged four wickets in a nagging spell and it was only because of Michelle Goszko's gritty 47 that Australia got to 173. Neetu David, the left-arm spinner, grabbed two wickets while the medium-pacers, Jhulan Goswami and Amita Sharma, shared a wicket apiece.

India's openers seemed to have the chase under control, with a steady 36-run partnership, but Rolton put the brakes on with an effective spell. Anjum Chopra rectified the damage with a spirited 66, which included seven fours, but India's lower order succumbed to the medium-pace duo of Sarah Andrews and Cathryn Fitzpatrick. They finished with five wickets between them and Chopra, who was the last batter out, ran out of partners in the tense conclusion.