The India A Women’s tour of Australia has reached its culminating stage, with the series shifting gears to the final unofficial Test match at the picturesque Gold Coast. On a day marked by riveting cricket action, the hosts, led by Charli Knott, chose to bat first, a decision that soon proved to be a miscalculation as the Indian bowlers unleashed a disciplined and relentless attack. The Australians were bundled out for a mere 212 runs, setting the stage for a compelling contest.
Minnu Mani and Priya Mishra emerged as the heroes of the day as they shared nine crucial wickets between them. Mani was particularly impressive, capturing a five-wicket haul that caught the eye of cricket aficionados. Mishra also placed a spectacular performance, chipping in with four wickets, which ensured that the Australian batters could never quite settle into their rhythm.
Initially, it seemed like Australia A might dominate the proceedings when their openers, Emma de Broughe and Georgia Voll, made a promising start. The duo added an essential 56 runs for the first wicket in the opening session, with Voll doing most of the heavy lifting with the bat. However, Priya Mishra’s first strike, which saw her castling Emma de Broughe, marked the beginning of a dramatic collapse. The Indian bowlers kept mounting the pressure, and soon enough, the score was a concerning 94/5 for the hosts.
Both Mani and Mishra exhibited clinical precision during their spells, ensuring that the Australian batters had little room to breathe. Their impeccable line and length kept chipping away at the batting lineup. Mannat Kashyap also played a pivotal role by getting rid of Georgia Voll, who scored a valiant 71 runs before falling. At this point, with the score at a lowly 144/8, Australia A seemed down and out in their first innings itself.
However, the Australian spirit of resilience shone through in their lower-order batters, namely Grace Parsons and Kate Peterson. These two fought commendably and stitched together a 60-run partnership, with Parsons contributing 35 runs and Peterson chipping in with 26. Despite their efforts, the Australian lineup was eventually all out for 212 runs in 65.
.5 overs, owing to the relentless pressure from the Indian bowlers.
Turning to India’s response, the visitors faced an early setback when Priya Punia was dismissed by Maitlan Brown with the new ball. However, Shubha Satheesh played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings momentarily. She scored a brisk 22 runs before being trapped in front of the stumps by Kate Peterson, leaving India A at a slightly precarious position.
The turning point for India A came with the partnership between Shweta Sehrawat and Tejal Hasabnis. This duo batted with intent and ensured no further immediate damage was done. Their unbeaten 53-run stand was a testament to their resilience and skill, helping India A end the day in a commanding position. At stumps on Day 1, India A stood confidently at 100/2 after 36 overs, with Sehrawat unbeaten on a well-made 40 and Hasabnis batting steadily on 31. The visitors trail by just 112 runs, setting up an intriguing second day where they will undoubtedly aim to build a solid lead.
This opening day of the unofficial Test is a clear indicator of the competitive spirit and skill within the India A Women’s camp. Minnu Mani, with her spectacular five-wicket haul, and Priya Mishra, who was equally potent with her four wickets, provided a brilliant start with the ball. Their efforts were ably supported by the disciplined bowling of Mannat Kashyap and the resilience shown by the Indian batters towards the end of the day.
Australia A’s total of 212 suggests a competitive game ahead, with much depending on how well the Indian batters can build on the solid foundation laid by Sehrawat and Hasabnis. As Day 2 approaches, all eyes will be on how India A navigates the challenges posed by the Australian bowlers and looks to seize control of the match. The cricketing world eagerly awaits another day of high-quality action from the Gold Coast, where every run and wicket could potentially sway the fortunes of this closely contested encounter.
**Brief Scores:**
– **India A:** 100/2 after 36 overs (S Sehrawat 40*)
– **Australia A:** 212 all out in 65.5 overs (G Voll 71; M Mani 5/58, P Mishra 4/58)
