Australia’s “Schutt”ing star bombs India
Powered by their right-arm pace sensation Megan Schutt’s heroics with the ball, Australia decimated India by five wickets in the first ODI on Thursday at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. This is Australia’s 19th ODI win in as many matches that they have played at this venue.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, India made a mess of what were supposedly very good conditions to bat. The opening pair of Smriti Mandhana (8) and Priya Punia (3) perished inside seven overs with the scoreboard reading 19 as Schutt sent them packing. Later, Harleen Deol (19), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (17), Jemimah Rodrigues (23), and Richa Ghosh (14) got off to starts but eventually bit the dust as they found the Aussie bowlers too hot to handle. The tourists lost their last five wickets for just 11 runs.
Alongside Schutt (5/19), who claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs, seamers Kim Garth (1/20) and Annabel Sutherland (1/13), together with spinners, Ashleigh Gardner (1/14) and Alana King (1/18) broke the back of India’s batting. The visitors were bowled out cheaply for 100 in 34.2 overs. It was their second lowest score (lowest is 89) in ODIs against Australia.
Chasing a below par target, the hosts cruised to a win in just 16.2 overs as they overhauled the target at a canter, albeit a few hiccups. Openers Phoebe Litchfield (35) and debutant Georgia Voll (46 not out) led the run chase from the front and sent the Indian bowlers on a leather hunt. Though speedster Renuka Singh Thakur (3/45) and Priya Mishra (2/11) managed to bowl half of the Australian side, it wasn’t enough to seal the match.
Australia have taken a 1-0 lead in this three-match ODI series. The two teams will meet again on Sunday for the second ODI at the same venue. It will be a do or die match for India, whereas for Australia, a win there, will help them take an unassailable lead.
Brief Scores: India 100 all out in 34.2 overs (J Rodrigues 23; M Schutt 5/19) lost to Australia 102/5 in 16.2 overs (G Voll 46 not out; R Thakur 3/45) by 5 wickets