INDW vs AUSW: Vastrakar and Sneh Lead as India Restricts Australia to 219

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 21 December 2023, 05:03:33 PM IST

INDW vs AUSW: Vastrakar and Sneh Lead as India Restricts Australia to 219
On the inaugural day of the solitary Test in the multi-format series at Wankhede Stadium, India Women showcased a strong bowling performance with Pooja Vastraka securing figures of 4-53 and Sneh Rana contributing 3-56. Australia was dismissed for 219 runs in their first innings. The innings, spanning 77.4 overs and lasting 305 minutes, saw a remarkable counter-attacking half-century by Tahila McGrath, who smashed the fastest Test fifty by an Australian in women's cricket, achieving the feat in just 52 deliveries.
Of the other Australian batters, Beth Mooney scored 40 and skipper Alyssa Healy 38 while Kim Garth contributed an unbeaten 28 off 71 balls lower down the order, raising vital partnerships with Jess Jonassen (19 off 61) and Lauren Cheatle (6) as Australia went past the 200 runs mark. Landing the ball around the good length spot repeatedly, Vastrakar, who claimed her best figures of 3/23 in the second innings of the previous Test against England at the DY Patil Stadium last week, moved the ball both ways and used the early juice in the wicket to trouble the Australian batters.
Bowling in four spells, three of them from the Garware end, Vastrakar claimed one wicket from the Tata End in his first spell and then claimed the all-important wicket of Beth Mooney from the Garware end in her second spell on the stroke of lunch. With the 24-year-old pacer from Madhya Pradesh looking to India's best bowler of the day, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur used her judiciously, bringing in her to break the rhythm of the Australian batters.
Sneh Rana made a significant impact by dismissing key batters, including Tahlia McGrath, who flicked the ball uppishly to midwicket, along with Alana King (5) and Lauren Cheatle (6). Pooja Sharma, who recently played a pivotal role in India's 347-run victory against England with a remarkable 9/39 performance at DY Patil Stadium, secured two wickets for 45 runs, including the crucial dismissal of Alyssa Healy. Despite the excellent bowling performance by the Indian team, capitalizing on the assistance from the pitch, they could have limited Australia to a lower score had they not dropped four catches in the field.
Source: IANS

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