India batted first and folded for 214 in 48.3 overs after a promising start. Openers Smriti Mandhana (58) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (53) built partnerships, but Kashvee Gautam’s 43 couldn’t prevent a middle-order collapse. Spinner Ashley Gardner shone with figures of 3/33, supported by sharp fielding and timely breakthroughs.

Australia’s chase was clinical. Beth Mooney’s elegant 76, laced with seven fours, set the platform. Alyssa Healy’s half-century accelerated the scoring, and Annabel Sutherland’s unbeaten 48 sealed the deal. Phoebe Litchfield’s 32 provided solidity up top. Only Shree Charani troubled the batters with 2 wickets.

Looking back, Australia’s love affair with this venue dates to 1999’s 100-run rout of South Africa. They followed with seven wins against New Zealand (2006-2011), gritty two-wicket thrillers over England (2017), clean sweeps of Sri Lanka (2019) and New Zealand (2020), plus victories against Pakistan (2023) and India earlier this year.

As the series progresses, India faces a steep uphill battle against a team that’s simply unbeatable at home. Expect fireworks in the deciders.