Latest Match Report – India (W) vs AUS WMN Solely Check 2023/24

Australia 219 and 233 for five (McGrath 73, Perry 45, Harmanpreet 2-23, Rana 2-54) lead India 406 (Deepti 78, Mandhana 74, Rodrigues 73, Ghosh 52, Gardner 4-100, Sutherland 2-41) by 46 runs

After dominating the Check for a very good a part of two days, India had been lastly put beneath the pump, largely by way of Tahlia McGrath, who scored her second fifty of the Check, and spectacular contributions from Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy. Nevertheless, Harmanpreet Kaur weaved her magic with the ball to choose two wickets late within the day as India had their nostril marginally in entrance on the finish of day three in Mumbai.

By the point stumps had been known as, Australia had reached 233 for five of their second innings – successfully 46 for five – with a day to go. On the crease had been Annabel Sutherland, unbeaten on 12, and Ashleigh Gardner on 7.

Resuming on 376 for 7 within the morning, India added 30 to their in a single day rating to stretch their result in 187 earlier than being bowled out 35 minutes into the day. Pooja Vastrakar struck three fours early within the day however fell three wanting a maiden Check fifty to Australia’s short-ball plan, caught at deep square-leg, the place Kim Garth was midway in from the rope.Garth then sneaked by way of Deepti Sharma’s bat and pad to complete her keep on 78, earlier than Sutherland cleaned up the innings through one other quick ball that Renuka Singh may solely fend to gully. India, nonetheless, did handle to achieve their highest Check rating towards Australia.Beth Mooney got here out on a constructive observe within the second dig. She acquired going with two chic fours off Vastrakar after which crashed Renuka by way of the covers, and largely appeared untroubled. Then got here a little bit of a mind fade that she would wish to overlook quickly. Mooney pushed a full supply from Sneh Rana to Richa Ghosh at foolish level and, probably considering she was out caught, wandered out her crease together with her again to the fielder. Ghosh sensed a possibility and hit the stumps direct to search out Mooney effectively wanting her crease.

Tahlia McGrath stored the Australia innings chugging alongside by way of the afternoon session•Getty Photographs

Phoebe Litchfield then tried a pre-meditated reverse sweep, misjudged the size of the ball, and was cleaned up by Rana for 18. McGrath and Perry survived a number of nervy moments to maneuver to 63 for two at lunch, nonetheless trailing by 124 runs.

The script, nonetheless, modified after lunch. For the primary time within the Check, the India bowlers had been made to toil. Each McGrath and Perry used their attain effectively to smother the spin and negate any risk. Perry began the session with a two and a 4 after which dug in. McGrath had a life on 15 when Rana at first slip did not take a pointy likelihood to her left. Other than that, the duo hardly supplied any possibilities.

Perry and McGrath hung round for 173 balls for his or her 84-run collaboration earlier than Perry fell nearly towards the run of play. Rana acquired a size ball to land on center and leg, and Perry’s superb tickle was held neatly by wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia. That was the one blemish in a near-perfect session for Australia wherein they scored 93 runs in 33 overs.

There was toil in retailer for the bowlers within the closing session as effectively. McGrath discovered an ally in Healy and the duo stood tall for 175 balls, wherein they added 66 runs for the fourth wicket. McGrath reached her second fifty of the Check, this day without work 119 balls, whereas Healy curbed her aggression to maintain the India bowlers at bay. There have been no boundaries hit for 13.3 overs after tea, which additionally noticed McGrath get an lbw determination overturned on evaluation.

Sneh Rana gave India the early breakthroughs on the day•BCCI

McGrath then broke the shackles by smashing Renuka for 3 successive fours, additionally taking Australia into the lead. With not one of the major bowlers inflicting a lot harm, Harmanpreet introduced herself into the assault within the 72nd over and issues immediately began to occur.

She nearly struck together with her very first ball, however DRS got here to McGrath’s rescue with the tracker confirming the ball was sliding down leg. Her luck would, nonetheless, run out 4 balls later when she inside-edged a full supply again onto her leg stump to fall for 73.

India did not evaluation a choice towards Sutherland, however Harmanpreet struck once more when she dismissed Healy lbw to a sweep for 32, with the batter losing a evaluation within the course of. On the earlier ball, there had been a confrontation between the 2 when Harmanpreet, having fielded the ball off her personal bowling, tried a direct hit on the striker’s finish however Healy was effectively inside her crease and blocked the throw together with her bat, leading to 4 overthrows. Phrases had been exchanged, as India appealed unsuccessfully for obstructing the sphere, however Harmanpreet had the final chuckle.

Sutherland and Gardner then survived 62 balls wherein they solely added 12 to verify there was no additional harm.

Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo