Can IND-W clinch their first-ever Test win against AUS-W?
Australia took India’s three wickets in the first 7.3 overs of Day 3 and bowled them out for 406. It was India’s highest total against Australia in women’s Tests. Australian pacers Annabel Sutherland and Kim Garth did a great job to take the last three wickets. Though India were bowled out within the first 40 minutes of play, they will be happy with the 187-run lead.
Just like in the first innings, Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar started the proceedings for India with the ball. However, this time, the Australian opening pair of Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield played well against the Indian speedsters. But when India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur introduced spin into the attack, the Australians were in a spot of bother. The occasional ball kept a bit low forcing the batters to play predominantly on the front foot.
India drew first blood in 12th over as they sent back Mooney (33), who was looking in good touch. Richa Ghosh standing at silly point ran out Mooney at the striker’s end and broke the 49-run opening partnership. Litchfield (18) too perished in quick succession trying to reverse sweep Sneh Rana. It was not the best of shot selection from the 20-year-old, who was out on a Diamond Duck in the first innings.
The Australian innings was then stabilised by Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry who put together 84 runs for the third wicket. It was Australia’s second 50+ partnership in the match. Interestingly McGrath was involved in both. The McGrath-Perry partnership which lasted for almost 30 overs was finally broken by Rana. In a soft dismissal, Perry (45) edged one to wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia on the leg side giving India the much-needed breakthrough.
After Perry’s dismissal, Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy joined hands with McGrath and the duo put together 66 runs for the fourth wicket. In the process, McGrath scored her second half-century of the match to become the first visiting player to score two half-centuries in a women’s Test match in India. To get the wicket of McGrath, who was looking solid, India required a miracle. Captain Kaur decided to give herself a bowl. In the very first over she bowled, she dismissed McGrath. The ball was tossed up inviting the batter to drive. McGrath (73) played on and the ball hit the stumps. Effectively Australia were struggling at 19/4.
Bowling with a lot of confidence, Kaur picked up her second wicket getting rid of Healy (32), who chose a wrong ball to play the sweep short. Healy was adjudged leg before wicket and Australia lost half their side with a lead of just 34 runs. The visitors held their nerves for the final few overs of the day’s play as they did not lose any more wickets. Annabel Sutherland (12*) and Ashleigh Gardner (7*) remained unbeaten helping Australia take a 46-run lead.
The one-off Test match between India and Australia is still open with any result possible on the last and final day of the match. Having taken the new ball towards the fag end of the Day 3, Thakur and Vastrakar will be expected to be bundle out Australia in the first hour of play. On the other hand, Australia would want to bat atleast the first session of Day 4 and add another 130-150 runs to stand a chance to win or draw the Test. Can India stop Australia and pull off a win to secure their first Test win against them? Day 4 of the match will decide.