India and Australia faced each other in the one-off women’s Test match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday. India won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to make a strong start in the historic match. India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma did not disappoint, as they put on a record-breaking partnership of 167 runs for the first wicket. Mandhana scored a brilliant century, while Verma fell just four runs short of her maiden Test hundred. India ended the day at 259 for 3, with captain Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease. Here are the highlights of Day 1 of the India vs Australia women’s Test match.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma Create History with Opening Stand
India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave their team a dream start, as they batted with confidence and flair against the Australian bowlers. The duo played a mix of aggressive and defensive shots, keeping the scoreboard ticking and the pressure on the opposition. Mandhana and Verma broke several records with their opening stand, such as:
- The highest opening partnership for India in women’s Tests, surpassing the previous record of 153 runs by Gargi Banerji and Sandhya Agarwal against Australia in 1984.
- The highest opening partnership for any team in women’s Tests against Australia, surpassing the previous record of 144 runs by England’s Janette Brittin and Carole Hodges in 1987.
- The second-highest opening partnership for any team in women’s Tests, behind the record of 200 runs by England’s Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins against South Africa in 2008.
Mandhana and Verma also became the first pair of Indian openers to score fifties in the same innings of a women’s Test match.
Smriti Mandhana Scores a Magnificent Century, Shafali Verma Misses Out on a Milestone
Smriti Mandhana was the star of the day, as she scored a magnificent century, her second in women’s Tests. She reached the three-figure mark in style, hitting a boundary off Sophie Molineux in the 54th over. She celebrated her hundred with a fist pump and a hug from her partner Shafali Verma. Mandhana’s century was the fifth by an Indian woman in Tests, and the first since Mithali Raj’s 114 against England in 2014. Mandhana’s century was also the first by an Indian woman against Australia in Tests, and the second by any woman after England’s Claire Taylor’s 116 in 2009.
Mandhana played a flawless inning, showing her class and temperament. She faced 219 balls and hit 18 fours and a six. She was particularly impressive against the spinners, using her feet and sweeping them with ease. She also rotated the strike well with Verma and kept the Australian fielders on their toes with her quick running between the wickets.
Shafali Verma, on the other hand, missed out on a milestone, as she fell just four runs short of her maiden Test hundred. Verma played a sensational innings, displaying her power and flair. She faced 152 balls and hit 18 fours and two sixes. She was aggressive from the start, taking on the Australian pacers and hitting them for boundaries. She also showed her maturity and patience, as she played out the spinners and waited for the loose balls. She was especially harsh on Ashleigh Gardner, whom she hit for three fours and a six in an over.
Verma looked set to reach her hundred, but she was undone by a brilliant delivery from Molineux, who bowled her through the gate with a sharp turner. Verma was visibly disappointed, as she walked back to the pavilion to a standing ovation from the crowd and her teammates. Verma’s 96 was the highest score by an Indian woman on Test debut, and the third-highest by any woman after Australia’s Jessica Jonassen’s 99 and England’s Lesley Cooke’s 98.
Australia Fights Back with Late Wickets, India Ends the Day in Command
Australia fought back with some late wickets, as they broke the opening stand and picked up two more wickets in quick succession. Molineux was the pick of the bowlers, as she took two wickets for 42 runs in 16 overs. She was well supported by Megan Schutt, who took one wicket for 51 runs in 17 overs. Australia also fielded well, saving some runs and taking some sharp catches.
Australia’s first breakthrough came in the 60th over, when Schutt dismissed Mandhana for 105. Mandhana edged a short and wide delivery to the keeper Alyssa Healy, who took a diving catch to her right. Mandhana’s wicket ended the 167-run opening stand, which lasted for 59.3 overs. Australia’s second breakthrough came in the 64th over, when Molineux bowled Verma for 96. Verma was beaten by a turning delivery that sneaked through the gap between her bat and pad and hit the stumps. Verma’s wicket ended her 92-run partnership with Punam Raut, who came in at number three.
Australia’s third breakthrough came in the 71st over, when Gardner trapped Raut lbw for 18. Raut played across the line to a straight delivery and was hit on the pad in front of the stumps. Raut reviewed the decision, but the ball-tracking showed that it was hitting the middle stump. Raut’s wicket ended her 35-run partnership with Mithali Raj, who came in at number four.
India ended the day at 259 for 3, with Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease. Raj was unbeaten on 20, while Kaur was not out on 9. India has a lead of 82 runs over Australia, who were bowled out for 177 in their first innings. India will look to extend their lead and put Australia under pressure on Day 21234
