Pooja Bhastrakar excelled in bowling for India
After lunch, the Australian Women’s team lost four wickets, facing a formidable bowling performance by Pooja Vastrakar from India, who secured a 4-wicket haul. Their score stood at 180/8 during tea, having lost four wickets and scored 77 runs in that session. Alyssa Healy and Annabel Sutherland of AUS W built a resilient partnership frustrating IND W after lunch.
However, the breakthrough came when Deepti Sharma’s delivery kept low, crashing onto Healy’s stumps. Shortly after, Pooja Vastrakar dismissed Annabel Sutherland, leaving Australia at 6 down. Earlier, Vastrakar had taken her second wicket off the final ball of the session as AUS W reached lunch at 103/4 against IND W on Day 1.
She removed Beth Mooney for 40, concluding a brilliant session for the hosts who capitalized on a few chances and steadily chipped away to reduce AUS W to their final 2 wickets. Tahlia McGrath swiftly reached a half-century in just 52 balls, leading a strong recovery for AUS W after a tough start against IND W.
Despite initially struggling at 7/2, McGrath and Beth Mooney crafted an impressive partnership, adding 80 runs. However, shortly after reaching her fifty, Rajeshwari Gayakwad took a stunning catch to dismiss McGrath, rewarding Sneh Rana with a well-deserved wicket. India had a dream start after Australia’s skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and chose to bat in the one-off women’s Test on Thursday.
An unfortunate mix-up between Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield resulted in India’s first breakthrough in the match’s opening over. Litchfield departed for a duck without facing a ball while Pooja Vastrakar, continuing her good form, dismissed the dangerous Ellyse Perry (4) in her initial over.
Nevertheless, Australia’s women managed to recover through Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney. McGrath, dropped on 18, counterattacked, helping Australia W surpass 50 in just 10 overs. Despite a chance, India W refrained from reviewing an LBW appeal against Beth Mooney.
Rana had Mooney defending and struck the pad. The umpire gave it not out, and India chose not to challenge, which proved a missed opportunity as the ball tracker indicated three reds. Rana initiated India’s spin attack with a maiden over before McGrath hit Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a boundary, achieving a fifty partnership.
Another opportunity slipped when Deepti Sharma failed to grasp a thick edge from McGrath. India, fresh off a historic win against England, handed wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh her maiden Test cap, while left-arm pacer Lauren Cheatle made her Test debut for Australia.
India XI: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh.
Australia XI: Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy (c/wk), Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, Lauren Cheatle, Kim Garth.
The match unfolded with an intense battle between the Indian and Australian women’s cricket teams. India’s bowlers, spearheaded by Pooja Vastrakar’s exceptional performance, showcased their skill in breaking partnerships and claiming crucial wickets.
Meanwhile, Australia’s batters, especially Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney, displayed resilience, fighting back after a shaky start and building significant partnerships to stabilize their innings.
India’s decision-making encountered a few pivotal moments during the match, notably when they refrained from reviewing an LBW appeal that could have potentially tilted the scales in their favor against Beth Mooney. Such instances underscored the significance of strategic choices in a high-stakes cricket encounter.
The debutantes, Richa Ghosh for India and Lauren Cheatle for Australia, marked their entry into Test cricket, adding a layer of excitement and anticipation to the unfolding match. As the day progressed, the game stood poised with both teams showcasing moments of brilliance and missed opportunities.
The strategic maneuvers, batting prowess, bowling finesse, and tactical decisions during the match highlighted the intensity and competitive spirit in women’s Test cricket. The battle between India and Australia continued to unfold, promising an enthralling contest between two formidable teams in the world of women’s cricket.
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