IND-W create history as they beat AUS-W for the first time in Tests

In a historic win, India Women beat Australia Women for the first time in Test cricket. India handed a crushing eight-wicket at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the one-off Test match that was played from December 21 to 24. Wankhede Stadium hosted a women’s Test after 39 years and incidentally, the last Test played here was also between India and Australia. Having played a dozen Test matches against each other, India have one win while Australia have four.

 

India start the Day 4 with a bang as they dismiss Ashleigh Gardner (7) in the second over of the play. Pooja Vastrakar bowled a classic in-swinging yorker to get Gardner leg before wicket. The Australian all-rounder could not add any runs to her overnight score.

 

There was no respite for Australia as India continued to attack. Harmanpreet Kaur turned to her off spinners Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma after the speedster Renuka Singh Thakur and Vastrakar bowled three overs apiece to start the proceedings of the day. Rana did not take much time to add another two wickets to her overnight tally of two as she sent Annabel Sutherland (27) and Alana King (0) packing in consecutive deliveries. While Sutherland glowed one to wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia, King was clean bowled as she played on to her stumps. With eight wickets down the visitors had taken a lead of 73.

 

Replacing Deepti Sharma, left arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad was introduced into the attack. In her first over of the spell, she picked up the wicket of Kim Garth (4). Having gone wicketless for 40.2 overs that she bowled in the match, Gayakwad finally struck as she clean bowled Australia’s number 10. In the second over of her spell, Gayakwad again incurred a clean bowled to dismiss her opposite number Jess Jonassen (9), who fought hard in her 42-ball stay. Australia was all out for 261 in 105.4 overs, effectively setting a target of 75 for India to chase. It took just 15.4 overs for India on Day 4 to bowl out Australia.

 

India started the run chase in style as the opening batter Shafali Verma hit a four through extra covers on the first ball of the innings bowled by Kim Garth. However, Verma (4) didn’t last long as she was caught behind by wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy in the same over. Australia created a chance again in the fourth over but Richa Ghosh (0) was given a life by Beth Mooney who dropped a regulation catch at first slip of Ashleigh Gardner’s bowling.

 

Smriti Mandhana and Ghosh stitched a 51-run partnership for the second wicket before Ghosh (13) was dismissed trying to hit one in the air. Having seen Mandhana play an aerial short in the previous over of Jonassen, Ghosh was excited to try one for herself of Gardner’s bowling. However, she was caught by Tahlia McGrath, who backpedaled from mid-on to grab the catch. There were no further roadblocks in the run chase as Jemimah Rodrigues (12*) and Mandhana (38*) saw India home. Mandhana hit the winning runs as she smacked one over Jonassen’s head for a four.

 

India’s historic win was characterised by an outstanding team effort, however one player that had the most influential contribution was the off-spinner Sneh Rana. Rana won the player of the match award for her excellent bowling effort as she snapped 7/119 in 44.4 overs, including nine maidens.

 

In the last 10 days, India have won two Tests back-to-back, first against England and then against Australia. Indeed, Christmas has arrived early for the Indian women’s cricket team and all their fans.

 

 

Brief Scores

Australia 219 in 77.4 overs (Tahlia McGrath 50; Pooja Vastrakar 4/53)

India 406 in 126.3 overs (Deepti Sharma 78; Ashleigh Gardner 4/100)

Australia 261 in 105.4 overs (Tahlia McGrath 73; Sneh Rana 4/63)

India 75/2 in 18.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 38*; Ashleigh Gardner 1/18)