Top 5 Biggest ODI Defeats For Australia Women By Margin Of Runs

In the world of women’s cricket, Australia has been nothing short of a dynasty. Their dominance across formats has redefined excellence, built on generations of match-winners like Belinda Clark, Ellyse Perry, and Meg Lanning. Their legacy boasts seven ICC Women’s World Cup titles, countless winning streaks, and a reputation for clinical consistency.

But even empires have their off days.

While victories often form the bedrock of a team’s legacy, defeats—particularly humbling ones—leave behind deep imprints that shape the future. And for the Australian women’s cricket team, rare, emphatic losses by large run margins have stood out like scars on an otherwise gleaming record.

In this feature, we revisit the five biggest defeats by runs in Australia Women’s ODI history, culminating in their record-breaking 102-run loss to India Women in 2025. These games are more than just scorecards—they are turning points, wake-up calls, and windows into the evolving competitiveness of international women’s cricket.

#5 – Lost by 82 Runs vs New Zealand, Lincoln – 2008

A Wake-Up Call from the White Ferns

Date: March 1, 2008
Venue: Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
Opponent: New Zealand Women
Result: New Zealand won by 82 runs

In 2008, a young Australian side arrived in New Zealand with hopes of extending their regional dominance. But in the second ODI, they were greeted by a spirited Kiwi performance that set them back significantly.

New Zealand batted first and put up a fighting 238/7, with Aimee Watkins and Sara McGlashan laying the foundation. In reply, Australia’s top-order imploded under pressure. Lucy Doolan’s off-spin wreaked havoc, claiming 3 wickets, and stifling Australia’s chase.

Despite some resistance from the middle order, the Aussies were eventually dismissed for 156, handing the hosts a famous 82-run win. It was one of the rare occasions Australia looked unsettled on foreign soil.

Key Performers:

Lucy Doolan: 3/24 (NZ)
Aimee Watkins: 55 (NZ)
Karen Rolton: 34 (AUS)

#4 – Lost by 84 Runs vs South Africa, North Sydney – 2024

A Historic First for South Africa

Date: February 7, 2024
Venue: North Sydney Oval, Australia
Opponent: South Africa Women
Result: South Africa won by 84 runs

This wasn’t just a defeat. It was history being made.

In the second ODI of the series, South Africa Women beat Australia for the first time ever in ODI history—and they did it on Australian soil. What made the moment even more iconic was the all-round brilliance of Marizanne Kapp.

Batting first, South Africa posted 229/6 in a rain-hit match. The DLS method adjusted Australia’s target to 234 in 40 overs. But the chase turned into a nightmare. Kapp, leading the bowling attack, tore through the top order with figures of 3/19, while Nadine de Klerk and Ayabonga Khaka applied relentless pressure.

Australia was bowled out for 149 in 29.3 overs, handing South Africa a famous 84-run win that reverberated across the cricketing world.

Key Performers:

Marizanne Kapp: 75 (bat) & 3/19 (ball)
Ayabonga Khaka: 2/33
Beth Mooney: 38 (AUS)

#3 – Lost by 88 Runs vs India, Chennai – 2004

The Rise of the Indian Women’s Game

Date: December 22, 2004
Venue: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Opponent: India Women
Result: India won by 88 runs

The 2004 tour was intense. While Australia eventually clinched the 7-match series 4–3, the final ODI at Chennai was a stunning triumph for India and a landmark moment for women’s cricket in the subcontinent.

India’s batting was led by Mithali Raj and Hemlata Kala, who helped the team scrape to 165/9 in 50 overs. It looked like a below-par total, but what followed was a bowling masterclass.

Amita Sharma, with her accurate medium pace, scythed through Australia’s lineup. Supported ably by Jhulan Goswami, the Indian attack exploited the slow, turning track perfectly. The Aussies were bowled out for 77—their lowest total in ODIs at the time.

Key Performers:

Amita Sharma: 3/12
Hemlata Kala: 42 (IND)
Lisa Sthalekar: 21 (AUS)

#2 – Lost by 92 Runs vs England, Edgbaston – 1973

From the Dawn of Women’s World Cups

Date: July 23, 1973
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Opponent: England Women
Result: England won by 92 runs

The inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1973 was a watershed moment for women’s cricket. Among its many historic matches, England’s comprehensive win over Australia stands tall.

England batted first and dominated from the get-go. Enid Bakewell, one of the greatest all-rounders of the women’s game, scored a majestic 118, while captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint added a composed 64. They posted a massive 279/3 in 60 overs—a huge total for that era.

In reply, Australia could never keep up with the run rate. The English bowlers, led by Anne Sanders and Rosalind Heggs, kept things tight. The Aussies finished at 187/9, losing by 92 runs in one of their earliest humbling defeats.

Key Performers:

Enid Bakewell: 118 (ENG)
Rachael Heyhoe Flint: 64 (ENG)
Rosalind Heggs: 2/31 (ENG)

#1 – Lost by 102 Runs vs India, Mullanpur – 2025

The Record-Breaking Collapse

Date: September 17, 2025
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur
Opponent: India Women
Result: India won by 102 runs

The most recent and biggest defeat in the history of Australian women’s ODI cricket came in Chandigarh—at the hands of a fired-up Indian side looking to bounce back in a crucial series.

Batting first, India were led by a breathtaking century from Smriti Mandhana, who scored 117 off 91 balls, recording the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian woman against Australia. India piled on 292 runs, their second-highest ODI total against Australia.

Then came the turn of India’s bowlers. Kranti Goud, a rising star in Indian cricket, bowled with precision and fire to claim 3/29, while the experienced Deepti Sharma applied the squeeze through the middle overs. Australia’s batters struggled under scoreboard pressure and were bowled out for 190, registering a 102-run loss, their heaviest in ODI history by run margin.

This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. With the Women’s World Cup less than two weeks away, India had delivered a psychological blow to the defending champions.

Key Performers:

Smriti Mandhana: 117 (91)
Kranti Goud: 3/29
Deepti Sharma: 2/24
Ellyse Perry: 43 (AUS)

Expert Reactions

🗣️ Lisa Sthalekar, Former Australia Captain:

“What India did today is redefine how they want to be seen on the global stage. This wasn’t just a match. It was a power shift. Australia will have to reflect hard.”

🗣️ Anjum Chopra, Former India Skipper:

“This win is 18 years in the making. Beating Australia in ODIs on home soil with such margin is historic. This will inspire a generation.”

Summary Table: Top 5 ODI Defeats by Runs – Australia Women

Rank	Opponent	Year	Venue	Margin	Notable Performers
1	India	2025	Mullanpur	102	Mandhana, Goud, Deepti
2	England	1973	Edgbaston	92	Bakewell, Heyhoe Flint
3	India	2004	Chennai	88	Amita Sharma, Kala
4	South Africa	2024	North Sydney	84	Kapp, de Klerk
5	New Zealand	2008	Lincoln	82	Doolan, Watkins

Lessons From Defeat

Australia’s ODI dominance remains unparalleled, but these five losses highlight a universal truth in sport—even the best can fall. And when they do, it opens the door for challengers to rise, inspire, and shift the balance of power.

India’s latest triumph in Mullanpur will be etched into cricketing folklore—not just as a record, but as a catalyst in women’s cricket’s evolution.

For Australia, it’s a moment to regroup, reassess, and rise again. For the rest of the world, it’s proof that the playing field is finally leveling.

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