Brisbane, February 24 Australia dominated the reigning world champions India in all aspects to achieve a comfortable six-wicket victory in the first Women's ODI here on Tuesday.
India put up a lackluster batting performance, being bowled out for 214 despite solid fifties from Smriti Mandhana (58 off 68) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (53 off 84).
Australia easily chased down the modest target following fifties from captain Alyssa Healy (50 off 70), who is playing in her farewell series, and Beth Mooney (76 off 79).
Spinner Ashleigh Gardner was the standout bowler for the home team, taking three wickets for 33 in seven overs.
The multi-format series is now tied at 2-2, with India winning the preceding T20 series 2-1. Following the three-match ODI series, a one-off Test will be played in Perth, after which Healy will end her career.
Despite winning the ICC title in November, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side is still a work in progress and lacks the aura of the dominant Australian side.
The positive for India with the ball was the performance of left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who took wickets of Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll in consecutive balls in the 11th over.
India won the toss and chose to bat at the Allan Border Field.
With Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry out of the three-match series due to injuries, pacers Megan Schutt and Lucy Hamilton were called up to the Australian side at the last minute.
Megan struck with just two balls, trapping Pratika Rawal in front with a sharp inswinger in the first over of the match.
This was Rawal's return to the national team after suffering an ankle injury during India's triumphant campaign at the ODI World Cup at home last year.
Batting at number three for the first time, Shafali Verma did not find any rhythm in her short innings. She eventually offered a catch to Darcie Brown.
Mandhana began with a string of boundaries past the slips before producing a series of elegant drives off the pace bowlers.
However, the Australian spinners maintained pressure in the middle overs, with Gardner having Jemimah Rodrigues caught behind with a full ball that straightened slightly to take the outside edge.
After Mandhana and Deepti Sharma fell to the sweep shot, Harmanpreet took time to stabilize the innings. She too, however, fell to the sweep shot off Gardner.
Kashvee Gautam (43 off 44) helped take the total past 200 and impressed with her six-hitting ability in an otherwise disappointing batting performance from the visitors.
She hit three sixes in total, including one over long-on off Megan.
