INDW vs AUSW: Clinical Australia clinch comprehensive win over India
The first match of the three-game ODI series between India and Australia was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, having won the toss, opted to bat first.
India faced an early setback with the loss of key batter Shafali Verma in the third over. Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh then stabilized the innings, taking the team to 41. However, Ghosh’s dismissal and the subsequent departure of captain Harmanpreet left India at 57 for three. Yastika fell just short of a well-deserved half-century, scoring 49 before departing with the team total at 95. The Indian batters struggled, reaching 182 for seven in the 38th over, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar staged a remarkable comeback for India. Despite the challenging situation at 182/7, Jemimah and Vastrakar displayed resilience. The right-handed batter played a pivotal role, well-supported by Vastrakar, who found boundaries. The duo scored 82 and 62, respectively, with Pooja remaining unbeaten, guiding India to a competitive score of 282 in their allotted 50 overs.
In response, Australia faced an early setback as Alyssa Healy departed for naught on the second ball of the innings. However, Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry forged a brilliant 148-run partnership for the second wicket, tilting the game in Australia’s favor. Litchfield and Perry contributed 78 and 75 runs, respectively, before being dismissed by Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma. Tahlia McGrath’s unbeaten 68 and Beth Mooney’s 42 ensured Australia chased the target comfortably, securing a six-wicket victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
