Indian women versus Australian Pink Ball Test match 1st Day: Smriti Mandhana brilliance leads India’s charge on a rain curtailed day
Thanks to a brilliant batting effort by Smriti Mandhana, the
Indian team ended the first day of the historic Pink Ball Test against Australia in
a decent position played at Carrara Oval, Gold Coast on Thursday.
Australian captain Meg Lanning won the toss and decided to
field first. Smriti Mandhana began off in an aggressive mood putting pressure
on an inexperienced Australian bowling lineup consisting of Darice Brown. On the
other hand, Shafali Verma looked tentative as she was dropped in the slips by
Meg Lanning going down to her left.
Mandhana showed great attacking skills and hit Brown for
four boundaries in an over. The luck was in favor of the Indian team as Indian
openers survived few anxious moments. Shafali Verma looked confident after the
initial drop chance. Mandhana reached her third Test fifty off 51 balls with a
boundary. Shafali Verma got her 2nd reprieve as Meg Lanning dropped the chance at slips off Sophie Molineux's first over.
Smriti Mandhana showed her intent and kept scoring runs.
Shafali Verma was given another chance by Sutherland at mid-on. Molineux struck
for Australia dismissing lucky Verma with a simple catch by Tahlia McGrath at
mid-off. The Indian openers laid a strong foundation adding 93 runs for the
opening wicket.
The off-spinner Gardner bowled well in tandem with Molineux
not allowing Mandhana and Punam Raut to score runs easily. Raut got her first
run after 16 deliveries. Both Australian spinners kept the pressure on Indian
batters. At the end of the first session, the Indian women’s team scored 101 for 1.
Smriti Mandhana started the second session off well with
aggressive strokes against Tahlia McGrath keeping the pressure on Australian
bowlers. With the scoreboard reading 114 for 1, thunder and rain arrived to
stop play.
After a rain-delay break, the play started again. Punam Raut
looked positive taking on Gardner while Mandhana continued her positive
approach. With the scoreboard reading 132 for 1, rain arrived again. The umpires
called early tea break.
There was no start to the play as rain poured down as stumps
was called by the umpires. The Indian team playing their first Pink Ball test
match ended at 132 for 1 with Mandhana and Punam Raut at the crease.
Mandhana and Raut added unbeaten 39 runs for the 2nd
wicket. They would be looking to dominate the Australian team on 2nd
day and post a massive total.
Indian women 132 for 1 in 44.1 overs ( Smriti Mandhana 80*,
Verma 31, Molineux 1/18)
Comments