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India Women exhibited an exceptional performance as openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma established a remarkable 137-run partnership, propelling India to a convincing nine-wicket victory against Australia Women in the first T20I at DY Patil Stadium.
After electing to field first, India Women’s bowling attack led by young pacer Titas Sadhu’s four-wicket haul and spinners Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma’s combined four-wicket contribution bundled out the reigning Women’s T20 World Cup champions, Australia Women, for 141 runs in 19.2 overs.
Chasing the target of 142, Smriti Mandhana’s composed 54 off 52 balls and Shafali Verma’s explosive unbeaten 64 off 44 balls dominated the proceedings. Their aggressive partnership guided India Women to a triumphant 145/1 in 17.4 overs, securing victory with 14 balls to spare.
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Sadhu’s impressive figures of 4-17 in her allotted four overs, coupled with the economical spells from off-spinners Shreyanka Patil (2-19) and Deepti Sharma (2-24), restricted Australia Women’s scoring momentum. Despite a mid-innings recovery by Ellyse Perry (37) and Phoebe Litchfield (49), Australia Women succumbed to a late collapse, losing their last six wickets for 29 runs.
Australia’s innings suffered an early setback, losing Beth Mooney (17) and skipper Alyssa Healy (8) in the initial overs to India’s disciplined bowling attack. Despite a partnership between Perry and Litchfield, Australia failed to capitalize, eventually being bowled out for 141.
India’s response was emphatic as Mandhana and Verma displayed exceptional batting prowess. Their partnership accelerated India’s innings, reaching the 100-run mark by the 12th over. Shafali Verma, making a resounding return after being dropped in the ODI series, scored a blistering half-century off 32 balls, while Mandhana achieved a steady fifty off 52 deliveries.
Mandhana’s dismissal at 137, caught by McGrath off Wareham, was a mere hiccup as victory seemed imminent. Jemimah Rodrigues sealed the win with a boundary, completing the chase with just five runs needed.
-IANS
