Mumbai. After registering a historic victory in the Test against England, the Indian women’s team also dominated Australia. An unbreakable 102-run partnership between Deepti Sharma (70 not out) and Pooja Vastrakar (33 not out) helped the team consolidate their lead by 157 runs on the second day of the only Test cricket on Friday. Match against Australia.
In response to Australia’s 219 runs, India scored 376 runs for seven wickets at the end of the second day’s play. Four Indian batsmen scored half-centuries, including Smriti Mandhana (74), Jemimah Rodrigues (73) and Richa Ghosh (52), apart from Deepti, who is making her Test debut.
Deepti took over the innings of Team India
Deepti and Vastrakar took charge when India lost four wickets within 14 runs. Australia used eight bowlers but only off-spinner Ashley Gardner (four wickets for 100 runs) could make an impact. Gardner, who took eight wickets in the Women’s Ashes Test, continued to trouble the Indian batsmen and took important wickets with good line and length.
At one point, India were 174 for seven but a brilliant partnership between Deepti and Vastrakar for the eighth wicket helped them to consolidate their grip on the match. Deepti and Vastrakar are just five runs away from setting the record for India’s best partnership for the eighth wicket. So far, Deepti has hit nine fours off 147 balls, while Vastrakar, who took four wickets for 53 runs on day one, has hit four fours off 115 balls.
Jemima continues to blast the tests
The highlight of India’s innings, however, was a 113-run partnership for the fourth wicket between youngster Richa Ghosh and Jemima. This is the second best partnership for the fourth wicket by India. Ghosh, who was batting for the first time in Test cricket, gave a brilliant example of aggression and composure. He faced 104 balls and hit seven fours in his innings. Ghosh became the 14th Indian batsman to score a half-century on debut. Jemima and Shubha Satish achieved this feat recently.
Jemima, who scored a half-century in a row for the second time, was on her way to her maiden Test century but then gave Annabel Sutherland an easy catch at extra cover off Gardner. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur could not even open her account and returned to the pavilion after playing only two balls. Gardner dismissed him LBW. Gardner immediately dismissed Yastika Bhatia (01) as well.
Early in the morning, India pushed forward with 98 runs for one wicket. Mandhana and Sneh Rana (09) completed a half-century partnership. Gardner broke the partnership by bowling Rana. Mandhana ran back to the pavilion. The Indian vice-captain faced 106 balls and hit 12 fours.
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Tags: Deepti Sharma, India vs Australia, Jemimah Rodriguez, Memory loss
First published: December 22, 2023, 18:54 IST