Australia have a golden chance to wrap up the women's multi-format series against India, needing 119 for victory in the second Twenty20 international on the Gold Coast.
Sent in by Australia captain Meg Lanning, India's innings started badly and featured two farcical run-outs before late hitting by Pooja Vastrakar lifted the score to 9-118 off 20 overs.
Vastrakar finished unbeaten on 37, easily the highest score of the innings as she dragged India from a precarious 9-81 to at least post a target they can try to defend.
Pace bowler Tayla Vlaeminck finished with 2-18 off three overs and was one of five Australian bowlers to take wickets.
Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2-11 off four overs, as Australia look to claim two points and take an unassailable 9-5 lead in the series ahead of Sunday's third and final T20I.
Before Vastrakar's stunning 26-ball knock, which included three fours and two sixes, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was the only one of the tourists' batting lineup to pass 20, scoring 28 off just 20 balls before she was stumped off the bowling of Georgia Wareham (1-14).
The shambolic nature of India's performance was summed up when Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma (16) found themselves at the same end while Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy removed the bails casually at the other.
Neither batter opted to leave the ground, forcing the third umpire to review the footage and eventually give Deepti her marching orders - a move which proved fortunate for the Indians as Vastrakar remained to provide her late resistance.
Saturday's match is also a momentous one for Australian allrounder Ellyse Perry, who is playing her 252nd international match for her country, surpassing Alex Blackwell's mark of 251 as the most games played by an Australian woman.
