AUS-W vs IND-W Ball by Ball Commentary

AUS-W

133/10(18.0 ov)

IND-W

50/1(5.1 ov)

India Women beat Australia Women by 21 runs (DLS method)

Commentary

India Women

11:43 AM IST One down, more to come - That wraps up this rain-curtailed contest, a match that still ends with India Women taking a 1-0 lead in the series. They will now look to seal the series in the next game, while Australia Women will be desperate to bounce back and force a decider. The second T20I will be played on 19 February, Thursday, at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. It begins at 8.15 am GMT (1.45 pm IST), and as always, you can join us early for all the build-up to the game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

11:46 AM IST The victorious skipper of India Women - Harmanpreet Kaur says that they wanted to have a full match, but unfortunately, rain didn't allow it. Adds that it is always a great feeling when you win. Mentions that Reddy and the other bowlers did very well and assessed the conditions nicely. Kaur says that Australia are a tough opponent, but they just want to play good cricket, which is important. Ends by saying that they have now started the series on a good note and is looking forward to the next game.

11:47 AM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Arundhati Reddy (4-0-22-4) wins the award for her superb bowling spell. She describes it as a strong start to the series, highlighting how the team quickly adapted to the conditions. Reddy mentions that they identified the right lengths early in the innings, which proved crucial to their success. Reddy also praises the collective effort of the bowling unit, crediting every bowler for executing the plan to perfection. Concluding her remarks, she says the victory gives the team a big confidence boost, but emphasizes that their focus remains on maintaining momentum and performing consistently throughout the series.

11:41 AM IST Presentation Time...

11:32 AM IST Australia lose their way - Earlier in the game, after being put in to bat, Australia never quite found their rhythm and were dismissed for 133 in 20 overs. Two brief 41-run partnerships offered some resistance, but a lack of composure and a touch of over-aggression meant they could not build anything substantial. Georgia Wareham top-scored with a brisk 30 off 19, while a few of the top-order batters made starts without converting them into meaningful contributions. India's bowlers kept tightening the screws, led superbly by Arundhati Reddy, who returned career-best figures of 4 for 22 in WT20Is. Sree Charani and Renuka Singh Thakur struck twice each, with Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma adding one apiece to round off a dominant bowling performance.

11:29 AM IST Runs before rain - Chasing a modest target, India made a flying start as Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana played with freedom and intent, making full use of the fielding restrictions. They were watchful for the first couple of overs, but once settled, they began to take the attack to the bowlers. Sophie Molineux broke the opening stand by removing Shafali for a quick 21 off 11, but by then the damage had already been done. Jemimah Rodrigues then kept the momentum going with a couple of crisp boundaries, ensuring India stayed well ahead of the DLS par score before the rain arrived and eventually ended the contest.

11:24 AM IST India strike first - The inevitable has happened and the match has been called off, with India Women winning by 21 runs (DLS) to take an early lead in the series. It was a superb all-round performance that saw them completely outplay Australia Women, though had the umpires called for the covers a couple of balls earlier, the points would have been shared.

11:22 AM IST UPDATE - 11.02 am GMT (4.32 pm IST) - It’s still raining, and both the pitch and the square are under covers. No updates from the ground yet, but we’re staying hopeful. DLS par score after 5.1 overs is 29 runs. India will win if we are unable to get back on the ground. Stay tuned for the latest updates.

10:44 AM IST Uh..oh! The umpires have called in for the covers now as the rain has got a bit heavier. As 5 overs have been completed now, we will have a result in this game, no matter what, and at this point, India Women are well ahead in the DLS par score. However, we hope that this is just a passing shower and we get to see more action on the field. Stay tuned for further updates.

10:40 AM IST Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

End of over 5.14 runs

IND-W: 50/1CRR: 9.68

Ball

Jemimah Rodrigues:9 (3)

Smriti Mandhana:16 (17)

Kim Garth:1.1-0-12-0

5.1

Kim Garth to Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 runs

FOUR! Gets it away! Fuller delivery, on middle, angling in. Jemimah Rodrigues flicks it away with superb timing to the deep square leg fence for another boundary. 50 up for India Women!

50 Runs for the teamIndia Women

Runs: 50/1

End of over 513 runs

IND-W: 46/1CRR: 9.20RRR: 5.86

Ball

Smriti Mandhana:16 (17)

Jemimah Rodrigues:5 (2)

Sophie Molineux:1-0-13-1

4.6

Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, no run

87.0kph

Quicker, full and on off, Smriti Mandhana knocks it to mid off.

4.5

Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, 4 runs

75.1kph

FOUR! Nice shot! Flighted, full and on off, Smriti Mandhana presents the full face of the bat and drives it gloriously between extra cover and mid off for a boundary.

10:42 AM IST It is raining here in Sydney now. We still need 2 balls to have a result here, as in a T20I game, 5 overs in the second innings need to be completed to avoid a washout.

4.4

Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, 4 runs

FOUR! Finds the gap! Floated, short and on middle, turning into the leg side. Smriti Mandhana stays back and heaves it away picking the gap in the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

4.3

Sophie Molineux to Jemimah Rodrigues, 1 run

85.9kph

Tossed up, full and on off, Jemimah Rodrigues drives it towards long off for a run.

4.2

Sophie Molineux to Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 runs

83.7kph

FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Short and outside off, Jemimah Rodrigues accepts the width on offer and cuts it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.

10:35 AM IST Australia Women break the opening stand. Jemimah Rodrigues walks out to bat at number 3.

4.1

Sophie Molineux to Shafali Verma, no run

84.3kph

OUT! TAKEN! Skipper Sophie Molineux comes into the attack and strikes right away. She bowls this flatter and shorter, on leg. Shafali Verma backs away to pull it away but gets cramped up for room and cannot get her hands through the shot. She mistimes it and the ball flies straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket, where Georgia Wareham takes a good catch. India Women are 33/1, chasing 134 runs.

Shafali Verma

21 (11b 1x4 2x6)SR: 190.91

c Georgia Wareham b Sophie Molineux

End of over 415 runs

IND-W: 33/0CRR: 8.25RRR: 6.31

Ball

Shafali Verma:21 (10)

Smriti Mandhana:8 (14)

Nicola Carey:1-0-15-0

3.6

Nicola Carey to Shafali Verma, 1 run

96.5kph

Slower one, full and on middle, Shafali Verma drags it to long on for one more.

3.5

Nicola Carey to Shafali Verma, 4 runs

101.7kph

FOUR! Put away! Nicola Carey bowls this on a hard length and around off. Shafali Verma gets on top of it and punches it through covers with good timing. It teases the fielder all the way through but wins the race to the fence for a boundary.

3.5

Nicola Carey to Shafali Verma, 1 run

97.5kph

WIDE! Fuller but down the leg side, Shafali Verma lets it go. Wided again.

3.4

Nicola Carey to Shafali Verma, 6 runs

97.7kph

SIX! Take that, says Shafali Verma! A wobble-seam delivery, full and around off. Shafali gets her bottom hand into play and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for another biggie.

3.3

Nicola Carey to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

95.5kph

Good length and on middle and leg, Smriti Mandhana heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

3.2

Nicola Carey to Smriti Mandhana, no run

Short of a length and around off, Smriti Mandhana stabs it out to cover-point.

3.2

Nicola Carey to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

99.8kph

WIDE! Hard length but outside off, over the tramline, Smriti Mandhana leaves it alone. Wided.

3.1

Nicola Carey to Shafali Verma, 1 run

96.6kph

Back of a length and on middle, Shafali Verma pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

10:29 AM IST Nicola Carey comes into the attack now. Also, the keeper, Beth Mooney is upto the stumps.

End of over 34 runs

IND-W: 18/0CRR: 6.00RRR: 6.82

Ball

Smriti Mandhana:7 (12)

Shafali Verma:9 (6)

Darcie Brown:2-0-10-0

2.6

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, no run

Another slower delivery, full and around off, Smriti Mandhana goes through her slog early. Gets it from the cue-end as the ball rolls towards cover.

2.5

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, no run

Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, Smriti Mandhana offers no shot at it.

2.4

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, 2 runs

85.3kph

Uppish but safe! A slower delivery, full and on off, Smriti Mandhana goes for the swipe across the line but the extra bounce takes the top edge. It flies wide of short third, where Kim Garth chases after it and dives to push the ball back inside to save a couple of runs. There is a check for the boundary. The replay shows that Garth's leg is very close to the ropes when she pushed the ball back in but the third umpire, after watching from different angles, deems it a fair stop.

2.3

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, no run

Goes fuller and on off, Smriti Mandhana drives it firmly but straight to short extra cover.

2.2

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, no run

115.6kph

Short of a length and around off, Smriti Mandhana hops up and dabs it towards point.

2.2

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

WIDE! Hard length but once again well outside off, Smriti Mandhana lets it go. Anoter wide given.

2.2

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

WIDE! Fuller but way outside off, Smriti Mandhana leaves it alone. Wided.

2.1

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, no run

Back of a length and around off, Smriti Mandhana stabs it out towards point.

End of over 28 runs

IND-W: 14/0CRR: 7.00RRR: 6.66

Ball

Smriti Mandhana:5 (6)

Shafali Verma:9 (6)

Kim Garth:1-0-8-0

1.6

Kim Garth to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

94.6kph

Hits the length hard, on middle, angling in sharply, Smriti Mandhana clips it aerially towards deep square leg for one.

1.5

Kim Garth to Smriti Mandhana, no run

110.2kph

On a length and on leg, Smriti Mandhana nudges it to mid-wicket.

1.4

Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, 1 run

113.1kph

Pitched up and around off, Shafali Verma drills it to sweeper cover for a single.

1.3

Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, no run

Good length and on middle, Shafali Verma gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

1.2

Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, 6 runs

109.9kph

SIX! BANG! Shafali Verma goes big now. Full again and around off. Shafali this time stays put in her crease, hits it through the line and dispatches it over the long off fence for a biggie.

1.1

Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, no run

Kim Garth begins with a fuller delivery, outside off. Shafali Verma uses her feet and looks to drive it away but this one keeps low and sneaks under her bat to the keeper.

10:16 AM IST Kim Garth to share the attack.

End of over 16 runs

IND-W: 6/0CRR: 6.00RRR: 6.73

Ball

Smriti Mandhana:4 (4)

Shafali Verma:2 (2)

Darcie Brown:1-0-6-0

0.6

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, no run

BEATEN! Darcie Brown hits the length hard and just around off, gets it to nip back in a bit. Smriti Mandhana looks to push it away but gets beaten on the inside edge.

0.5

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, 2 runs

119.3kph

Back of a length and on middle, Smriti Mandhana rolls her wrists and pulls it away past mid-wicket. However, the ball slows down in the heavy outfield, giving the chance to the deep square leg fielder to get across and cut it out. Two taken.

0.4

Darcie Brown to Shafali Verma, 1 run

Short of a length and on off, Shafali Verma dabs it down towards point for one.

0.3

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

Tries the in-swinging yorker, on middle, but serves a low full toss. Smriti Mandhana flicks it to deep square leg for another run.

0.2

Darcie Brown to Shafali Verma, 1 run

Good length and on middle and leg, Shafali Verma tucks it away through backward square leg for a run.

0.1

Darcie Brown to Smriti Mandhana, 1 run

Smriti Mandhana and India Women are up and running in the chase! Darcie Brown starts with a full delivery, on middle, Mandhana clips it away wide of mid on. Georgia Voll puts in a dive to her left to stop a certain boundary. A single taken.

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