INDW vs AUSW: Only Test Review – ‘Women in Blue’ register maiden victory over Australia

Following a historic triumph over England, India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, achieved another remarkable feat with a record eight-wicket win against Australia on Day 4 of the one-off Test at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, December 24. Notably, this marked India’s maiden win over Australia in the history of women’s Test cricket.

Chasing a target of 75 runs, the hosts reached 75/2 in just 18.4 overs, propelled by an unbeaten innings of 38 runs off 61 balls by Smriti Mandhana. Sneh Rana, emerged as the Player of the Match, who has played a pivotal role, concluding with impressive figures of 3/56 and 4/63 in the match.

Having won the toss and choosing to bat, the Alyssa Healy-led side managed a modest 219 in their first innings, with Tahlia McGrath being the standout performer, scoring a noteworthy 50 off 56 deliveries. The bowling prowess of Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana was crucial for India, as they secured four and three wickets, respectively. Deepti Sharma also contributed with two wickets.

In reply, the home side scored an impressive total of 406 runs, with four players achieving half-centuries. Smriti Mandhana (74), Richa Gosh (52), Jemimah Rodrigues (73), and Deepti Sharma (78) all made significant contributions. Notably, Ashleigh Gardner stood out for Australia with a four-wicket haul, although conceding 100 runs in the process.

In their attempt to stage a comeback in the third innings, Australia managed to score 261 runs, but their efforts fell short. Once again, Tahlia McGrath played a pivotal role, rescuing Australia with a resilient innings of 73 runs, featuring ten boundaries. On the bowling front, Sneh Rana emerged as a key performer for India, claiming four wickets, while Rajeshwari Gayakwad and captain Harmanpreet Kaur secured two scalps each. Looking ahead, both teams are set to face off in a three-match ODI series, commencing on December 28 in Mumbai.