The Australia women’s cricket team continued to dominate world cricket as they registered a thumping nine-wicket against India in the first ODI.
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The Australian women’s cricket team continued to redefine history in world cricket. Meg Lanning’s side registered a thumping nine-wicket win over India in the first ODI at Harrup Park in MacKay. Darcie Brown, the 18-year-old pacer playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League, was the star on debut as she picked up four wickets. Her spell at the top, in which she removed Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana was the key in Australia restricting India to a below-par score.
When she came back for her second spell, she dismissed Yastika Bhatia and Deepti Sharma. Although Mithali Raj held firm with yet another fifty, India never got going and they ended up on 225/8. Rachael Haynes blasted 93 and shared a partnership of 126 with Alyssa Healy for the opening wicket. It was this partnership that ended any chance of India trying to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Australia chose to bowl at Harrup Park but India looked to set an aggressive tone. Shafali Verma got going with two boundaries off Ellyse Perry. Australia’s star all-rounder was clearly rattled and she ended up conceding 16 runs in her next over, with Smriti Mandhana also getting into the action with a boundary. In the third over, there were seven wides that added to her woes.
But, Darcie Brown struck a body blow. The pacer bowled a short ball and edged it to Healy who took the catch. In her next over, she got rid of Mandhana as the batter sliced a delivery to backward point. Yastika Bhatia, on debut, looked in good touch but Mithali was in fine form right from the beginning.
After getting her eye in, she suffered a blow on the helmet from a short ball by Perry. Both Yastika and Mithali shared a 77-run stand for the third wicket. But, Brown came back and dismissed Yastika for a solid 35. After getting rid of Deepti Sharma for 9, Mithali held the key. She notched up her 38th fifty as she continued her fine form.
However, Australia fought back with quick wickets towards the fag end. Mithali was stumped for 63 off the bowling of Sophie Molineux. Hannah Darlington also bowled well in the death overs along with Georgia Wareham. Richa Ghosh hit two fours off Molineux to take India past 200. Jhulan Goswami and Richa both hit a six off Tahlia McGrath as India finished on 225/8.
However, Australia ensured that the good work done by the bowlers was not undone. Both Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes started cautiously but in the ninth over, the game changed. Healy hit two fours and a six off Pooja Vastrakar. The partnership went past fifty and Australia was in the driver’s seat.
Healy notched up her fifty off just 56 balls with a four off Deepti Sharma. It was a repeat of the performance that hurt India in the final of the ICC World T20 in Melbourne in 2020. After hitting a six off Poonam Yadav, the bowler got her revenge as Healy mistimed the lofted shot to be caught at mid-off.
Haynes reached her 16th fifty with a sweep off Poonam Yadav. Australia ensured that the runs kept coming with India struggling for options. Skipper Lanning showed her intent with two boundaries off Meghna Singh while Haynes upped the ante with two boundaries off Deepti Sharma.
The runs kept coming, with Lanning hitting two fours off Poonam Yadav. Haynes and Lanning continued to motor on as Australia neared the target. In the 41st over bowled by Jhulan Goswami, Lanning notched up her fifty off just 68 balls. But, fittingly, it was Haynes who scored the winning runs as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series.
