Bangalore: Australia (Southern Stars) trounced India on Tuesday by nine wickets and 22 overs to spare to remain unbeaten in its foray thus far. With New Zealand (White Ferns) beating England on Monday, the league phase turned dead with the finalist already decided. That left three dead-league matches (Australia-India, Australia-New Zealand and England-India).However, Thursdays round of matches between Australia-New Zealand and England-India will be a dress-rehearsal for the final and the play-off for the 3rd and 4th places.It truly was a dead match in every sense of the word with India making a painstaking 134 for 7 in its 50 overs. Having opted to bat, Indian openers went about the proceedings at a snails pace. When the first wicket fell in the 25 over India had scratched up 48 runs. Indias openers Anjum Chopra and Rumeli Dhar made 25 (84 ball) and 16 (73 balls) respectively.Indias plight was highlighted by the fact that none of the Indian batsmen were able to better their skippers knock of 25. Thanks to the lower-order which threw its bat around Indias managed what it eventually got.In reply, Australian openers coasted towards their target. Skipper Belinda Clark fell for an enterprising 49 (96 for 1- 21.2 overs). Sthalekar remained not out on 58 while the dynamic Rolton cracked 21 off 21 balls.

Extras:
Mithali's knock in vain, India loses by 53
Belinda strokes her way into form with classy 81
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