India opened their ODI series against Australia with a six-wicket loss at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Tuesday. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said conditions did not unfold as anticipated.
Australia, who entered the contest after a 1-2 defeat in the T20Is, kept India to 214 before completing the chase of 215. Addressing the result at the post-match presentation, stand-in skipper Mandhana said, “We started with the bat with two wickets down, which is never easy. We did really well to come back. The wicket didn’t play the way we thought it would.”
Mandhana captained the side in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, who sustained a knee injury while batting in the first innings.
On the captain’s condition, Mandhana stated, “I haven’t seen her yet, but I think she’ll be fine.”
Looking ahead to the remainder of the series, she added, “We’ve been playing good cricket, so it’s not like we’ll change much after one loss. We have to come together as a batting unit and post a good total. But we won’t think about it too much. We have two days to reflect and come back stronger.”
India’s innings
Choosing to bat first, India suffered an early blow as Megan Schutt trapped Pratika Rawal lbw in the opening over.
Shafali Varma, promoted to No. 3, struggled for timing and was caught and bowled by Darcie Brown for four off 17 balls in the eighth over.
Jemimah Rodrigues followed shortly after the powerplay, making eight before Ashleigh Gardner removed her, with Beth Mooney collecting the catch behind the stumps.
Mandhana reached her half-century with a single off Tahlia McGrath in the 20th over but fell in McGrath’s next over for 58, having struck seven fours.
Deepti Sharma managed only two before departing. Richa Ghosh then combined with Harmanpreet Kaur in a 37-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Ghosh scored 23 off 38 balls, including two boundaries, before Sophie Molineux dismissed her.
Kashvee Gautam added 53 runs alongside Harmanpreet for the seventh wicket. The Indian captain made 53 from 84 deliveries with three boundaries before Gardner claimed her wicket.
Gautam’s brisk 43, featuring three sixes and three fours, carried India beyond 200.
Gardner finished with three wickets, while Schutt took two. Brown, Alana King, McGrath and Molineux each picked up one.
Australia’s chase
Australia reached 217/4 in 38.2 overs to seal the win. Beth Mooney top-scored with 76, while Alyssa Healy contributed 50. Shree Charani was India’s most successful bowler with figures of 2/41.
India now head to Hobart for the second ODI at Bellerive Oval on Friday.
Brief Score:
India Women 214/10 in 48.3 overs (Smriti Mandhana 58, Harmanpreet Kaur 53; Ashleigh Gardner 3/33)
Australia Women 217/4 in 38.2 overs (Beth Mooney 76, Alyssa Healy 50; Shree Charani 2/41)
