Cricket

Smriti Mandhana’s half century puts India in a commanding position against Australia

In the 8th over of Mandhana took on Brown and took 16 runs off her over by scoring 3 consecutive boundaries to end the over. She completed her third Test-half century as India is off to a great start in this Pink-Ball Test match against Australia.

By Vaibhaw Tiwari

The India Women tour of Australia has been a mixed affair so far. Although Australia won the ODI series 2-1, they were never in the dominating position, and every match went right down to the wire and was decided in the last over.

After winning the final ODI, India came into the first and only test of the series brimming with confidence. Especially as they remembered their last outing in a test match against Bristol, against England, where they had an amazing first inning and were able to procure a draw on the last day.

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Australia on the other hand had their hands full with players’ issues. They last played a test match in the 2019 Ashes series and had only four players in the squad from their last day-night test match which was played in 2017.

Looking at the pitch with some grass cover, Australia upon winning the toss invited India to have a bat. Both the teams had several debutants, while Yastika Bhatia and Meghna Singh were going to play their first test for India. Australia had four debutants in the form of Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Darcie Brown, and Stella Campbell.

Adjusting to the wicket really quick, it took Mandhana no time to get her eyes in and she started off with a flier, as she smashed the debutant Brown for two fours in her very first over. This provided her some confidence as she played some great shots outside off stump, something everyone was talking about being her nemesis.

In the 8th over, she once again took on Brown and took 16 runs off her over by scoring 3 consecutive boundaries. Mandhana was dealing in boundaries as in the 33 runs she had scored up to this point, 28 runs had come in boundaries. This forced Alyssa Healy, the Australian captain, to make a change in bowling. She brought on another debutant Stella Campbell and experienced Tahlia McGrath into the attack, but to no avail.

In the 15th over Mandhana drove McGrath through the covers to bring up her 3rd Test half-century.

 

Vaibhaw Tiwari

Vaibhaw Tiwari is a post graduate in English. A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication and content writing. Vaibhaw is currently working as journalist at BusinessUpturn.com and can be reached at tvaibhaw001@gmail.com

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