Australia vs India - (Source:X.com)
On Tuesday, February 24, India women and Australia women locked horns in the first of a three-match ODI series at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. The hosts got off to a perfect start as they handed Harmanpreet Kaur-led side a six-wicket defeat to lead the series 1-0.
It was a one-sided contest as the hosts were all over India in all departments. The Women in Blue, batting first, tumbled for just 214 runs. In reply, the Aussies chased down the total in just 38.2 overs.
Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur Shine, rest disappoint
India, batting first, lost Pratika Rawal in the first over of the match for a duck. Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana rose to the occasion and scored a brilliant 58 (68), which featured seven fours. The only other positive with the bat was skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who amassed 53 (84) and had just three boundaries in her innings.
Kashvee Gautam also scored 43 (44) and formed a 53-run stand with Kaur for the seventh wicket. Other than that, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh were disappointing.
Ashleigh Gardner Shines With Ball
With the ball, Ashleigh Gardner was the star bowler and picked up a three-wicket haul. She registered the figures of 3/33 in her seven-over spell. Schutt picked up two wickets, while D. Brown, Alana King, Tahila McGrath, and Sophie Molineux took a solitary wicket to rattle India’s batting hopes.
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Overall, it was a collective effort from all the bowlers. A total of seven bowlers were used, and Sutherland was the only one who went without wicket.
India Takes The Field In Harmanpreet Kaur’s Absence
India eyed to defend 214 runs, but were without their regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who didn’t take the field due to a knee injury. In her absence, Smriti Mandhana led the team. Mandhana boasts a great record of winning four matches as a captain. However, she too failed to defend the total.
Alyssa Healy led from the front, and the Australia skipper scored 50 (70), which featured four fours. Unlike India, most of the Australian batters were on song, except Georgia Voll, who scored a golden duck.
Phoebe Litchfield also scored 32 (32), which had six fours. She stitched a 55-run opening stand. Eventually, Beth Mooney stole the show with her bat and scored 76 (79), which featured five fours and two sixes. Annabelle Sutherland too scored 48 (44), which featured four fours and a solitary six.
Indian Bowlers Fails To Show Promise In A Low-Scoring Game
With the ball, Shree Charani was the only positive as she took two wickets and registered the figures of 2/41 in her nine overs. Now, after a heavy and embarrassing defeat, the caravan will move to the Ninja Stadium in Hobart on February 27.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s participation is still unsure, and the India fans await a medical update on their regular skipper.
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