Phoebe Litchfield lofted back-to-back sixes before hitting the winning run to seal a win over one of the best international sides in the world on Tuesday night, claiming player of the match honours in the process.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She may be back at school on Wednesday but the innings in the Governor General's XI's win is the latest feather in the Kinross sensation's cap as she powered her young side to a five-wicket victory, taking responsibility in the side's chase once Bridget Patterson (30 from 30) was dismissed.
The 16-year-old strode to the crease at Sydney Showground Stadium with the score at 3-68 with six overs left, chasing India's 5-113, and took just 17 deliveries to score her unbeaten 25 in a clutch performance.
She took control in the second-last over, belting two sixes in two balls down the ground off Radha Yadav, with the second slipping between the fingers of long-on and over the rope.
Those maximums levelled the score before a single to short third man off the last first delivery of the final over cemented the win.
The match was a warm-up for the Indian side ahead of their tri-series with Australia and England, and certainly wasn't a stroll in the park for the visitors.
Speaking after the game, Litchfield said Australian teammate Ash Gardner had told her to go down the ground with aggressive shots.
"Ash Gardner said 'go sightscreen' so that was my plan," Litchfield said.
She said the heat had lifted after Patterson chipped Deepti Sharma to cover with 17 runs left to get, and with Hannah Darlington dismissed a few balls later she had to take the responsibility.
"She (Patterson) was on fire so when she got out I was a bit nervous but it's what you do, I dunno," she said.
Captain Molly Strano said she was "ecstatic" her young side could come up with a win against India following a disappointing showing against Australia in Monday's warm-up match.
"We were pretty flat in the performance we put up against Australia," she said.
"Our girls coming into the system are super talented, it's good to see how good they are at such a young age."
Meg Lanning hit an unbeaten 93 in that game and Ellyse Perry made a 39-ball 65 to dismantle the side's bowling attack as the national outfit reached 3-184 from 20 overs, only for Stromo's CA XI to be bundled out for 86, 39 of which came off Darlington's bat.
The tri-series begins on January 31.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...