Georgia Voll's Century Leads Australia to ODI Series Victory

Georgia Voll made a striking return after missing the first One Day International (ODI) as she recorded an impressive unbeaten century, leading Australia to a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh. The match took place at Allan Border Field, with Australia chasing a target of 221 runs set by Bangladesh.

Voll scored an exceptional 131 runs off 97 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield contributed significantly with 70 runs from 51 deliveries. The two established a formidable partnership, amassing 162 runs in just 19.5 overs, which positioned Australia firmly in control of the match. Ellyse Perry then assisted in wrapping up the chase with 131 balls remaining, allowing Australia to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

For Voll, the innings marked her third century in the ODI format. Notably, she had twice previously been dismissed for 101 runs, which made her achievement particularly satisfying this time as she finished the innings unbeaten. "It was good. After them batting the 50 and having a really good partnership, we knew it was a good wicket. Myself and Phoebe started well. We love batting together, so to put on a partnership like that was pretty cool. To finish it off with Pez [Ellyse Perry] was great," Voll stated after the match.

The Australian team's chase began effectively as they capitalised on a good batting pitch, immediately attacking after Bangladesh had recovered from an early collapse. Voll frequently found the boundary, particularly through point and cover, while Litchfield showcased a mix of precise strokeplay and adaptable shots against spinners. Both batters reached their half-centuries rapidly, maintaining pressure on Bangladesh.

Reflecting on pitch conditions, Voll mentioned, "We knew after the other night that we were playing on the same wicket and it probably flattened out. We noticed that throughout our bowling innings, we weren’t probably getting a lot out of the wicket. The key thing was getting in and if you get in, make a big score. It was obviously nice to stay in the middle for a little bit longer than I did the other day."

Although Litchfield was dismissed for 70, Voll continued to command the chase and completed her century in the 25th over. She accelerated further before finishing the innings alongside Perry, which highlighted the strong understanding between her and Litchfield developed through years of playing cricket together.

"We've obviously grown up playing cricket against and with each other. To open for our country together, we probably never thought we would do it at 15 years of age. Every time we get to walk out there together and open the batting for Australia is pretty special. I think we complement each other really well," Voll added.

Voll also emphasised the adjustments she has made to her gameplay in the 50-over format, focusing on managing the tempo of her innings while maintaining her aggressive batting style. "I think that’s probably been the thing that I’ve worked on is going through the gears a little bit more. Being a power hitter, I wanted to adjust that in the one-day format but not lose the ability to score quickly. It was nice to get us through to the end today."

Earlier in the match, Bangladesh faced a troubling start after being put in to bat, losing three wickets for just eight runs as bowlers Megan Schutt and Kim Garth dismantled the top order. However, Sobhana Mostary and captain Nigar Sultana Joty produced a commendable recovery, putting together a record fourth-wicket partnership of 195 runs, Bangladesh’s highest in women’s ODIs. Mostary scored an impressive 118 runs, which stands as the highest individual score for Bangladesh in ODIs.

Acknowledging the efforts of both the bowlers and the batting side, Voll remarked that the team would review the match to identify areas for improvement ahead of the final ODI. "Yeah, we'll obviously review the game and have a look where we can improve. I think our bowlers did a really good job. The wicket was pretty flat, so it’s tough to bowl on. Credit to them; they did a really good job in the middle and end phases."

Looking ahead, Voll shared her anticipation for Beth Mooney’s upcoming 100th ODI in the final match of the series, expressing her admiration for Mooney’s impact on her own career. "She’s had a big influence on my career. It’ll be exciting for her and obviously in front of her home people as well. We’ll go out and celebrate her 100 games. It’s a massive milestone so looking forward to it."