![India commit a major DRS howler vs Australia [Source: @7Cricket/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1771155667917_auswomenwatch.jpg?type=hq)
India commit a major DRS howler vs Australia [Source: @7Cricket/x]
The India Women’s team might well have taken the ‘worst review of all time’ against Australia in their series-opening first T20I match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The DRS review in question even sparked a laugh riot among on-air commentators in the second over of the match.
Indian fast bowler Kranti Gaud and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh emerged as the primary culprits as the visitors wasted away a crucial review quite early in the match after winning the toss.
Kranti Gaud and Richa Ghosh commit major DRS howler vs AUS
Opening the bowling with senior pacer Renuka Singh, young Kranti Gaud bowled to the two Australia Women openers in the second over of the match. In just the second ball of the over, the speedster sent down a wide-ish delivery outside the off-stump to Australia’s right-handed opener Georgia Voll.
In her attempted scoop wide of off, Georgia completely missed the ball, with Indian wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and bowler Kranti Gaud perceiving the cricketer’s failed attempt as a potential caught-behind.
As the on-field umpire Phillip Gillespie adjudged ‘not out’, the two Indian players instantly took the decision upstairs with DRS. As it turned out, the television replays indicated an unprecedented gap between the bat and ball, thus sparking some hilarious reactions from the on-air commentators at the time.
Even the series broadcasters 7Cricket trolled India’s review howler on social media by writing, “This one is ... not going into the Review Hall of Fame.”
India bundle out Australia for just 133
Even though Australia got off to a flier by racing to 20-0 in the first two overs, the Indian Women’s team responded back by bundling out the hosts for just 133. Star fast bowler Arundhati Reddy cut through Australia’s middle-order with the huge wickets of a well-set Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Wareham before delivering the knockout blow to bag sensational figures of 4-22.
Renuka Singh and left-arm spinner Shree Charani also picked up two wickets apiece in their combined seven overs. Kranti Gaud eventually toppled Georgia Voll in her following over, and Deepti Sharma trapped her Australia’s senior all-round counterpart Ashleigh Gardner.
India goes 1-0 up in series after rain halt
Chasing 134 for a win, Indian opener Shafali Verma started off with a boundary and two huge sixes to slap 21 off 11 balls at the top of the order. Her opening partnership with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana fetched 33 runs in just four overs for India before Verma got cramped by Australia’s new captain Sophie Molineux.
Team India eventually raced to 50-1 in 5.1 overs with both Mandhana and number three Jemimah Rodrigues batting at the crease before rains halted play in Sydney.
Following a brief delay, the match officials called off play and granted the ‘Women in Blue’ a comprehensive 21-run win under the DLS method.
With India taking two points in the opening match of the multi-format tour, the two sides will now face each other in the second T20I on February 19 in Canberra.
