India Women put up their highest ODI total against Australia and then succumbed to their sixth consecutive defeat and eighth in a row at home to the visitors at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Phoebe Litchfield (78) and Ellyse Perry (75) anchored the 283-run chase with a resolute 148-run stand for the second wicket as Australia Women registered a six-wicket win, reaching 285 in 46.3 overs, and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

A fine 82 from Jemimah Rodrigues and a brisk unbeaten 62 from Pooja Vastrakar propelled India to 282/8 after they won the toss, surpassing their previous-best against Australia in ODIs — 281/4 at Derby in 2017.

With several top-order batters failing to convert starts, Jemimah battled energy-sapping heat and humidity to notch up her second fifty in four ODIs this year, and the first against Australia.

She also forged several partnerships, including a 68-run stand with Pooja for the eighth wicket.

As Phoebe and Ellyse fell in quick succession, Beth Mooney (42 from 47 balls) and Tahlia McGrath (68 not out off 55 balls) flattened India with their 88-run stand for the fourth wicket off only 67 balls.

India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur was unhappy with the fielding effort of her team and asked the players to play aggressive cricket following their crushing defeat.

“We managed to get a defendable total. Bowlers did their job, but fielding didn’t work well. After a while, dew was there, but bowlers did well to keep stumps in play,” Harmanpreet said. “I was unhappy with our fielding though. Australia were amazing saving runs.”