MUMBAI, Dec 24: India Women successfully chased 75 runs on the fourth and final day for an eight-wicket win and a historic first-ever Test triumph against Australia Women at the Wankhede Stadium on Christmas Eve on Sunday.
After bundling out Australia for 261 in their second innings in 75 minutes in the morning, India raced to victory half an hour after lunch on the fourth day of the one-off Test as part of the multi-form series.
India had bundled out Australia for 219 on the first day and then posted 406 in their first innings, riding on half-centuries by Deepti Sharma (78), Smriti Mandhana (74), Jemimah Rodrigues (73) and Richa Ghosh (52).
In their first Test in India in four decades, the hosts dominated Australia to score their second successive victory in a fortnight.
Last week, India had defeated England by 347 runs, the biggest win by runs in the history of women’s Test cricket, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai for their first win against England at home.
Smriti Mandhana lofted Jess Jonassen for a boundary for the winning shot as they reached 75/2 in 18.4 overs with Mandhana remaining unbeaten on 38 with Jemimah Rodrigues not out on 12.
With the small crowd erupting with big cheers.
Rodrigues hugged Mandhana while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led the rest of the players and support staff down into the ground to celebrate their victories in back-to-back Tests.
It was a great performance by Harmanpreeet Kaur’s team as the players came up with fighting performances when needed.
Like the 122-run partnership between Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar in the first innings that eventually helped India to a lead of 187 runs.
India started the chase on a poor note when they lost Shafali Verma in the first over.
This was after the aggressive batter had struck Kim Garth for a boundary a few balls earlier.
Richa Ghosh had her heart in her mouth when a delivery from Ashleigh Gardner turned sharply and shot off from the rough spot and sailed over the middle and leg and past the keeper for four byes.
India were lucky to get a boundary when Tahlia McGrath misfielded off a Richa Ghosh drive races to the boundary in the seventh over as the Indians survived the testing period before lunch.
Richa Ghosh was out for 13, caught by McGrath off Gardner after lunch but Mandhana and Rodrigues struck some superb shots to take the team home.
Mandhana lofted it straight over the bowler’s head for the winning shot.
In 10 Tests played between the women’s teams of the two countries before this match, India had lost four and drawn six.
Earlier, Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad claimed two wickets each as India Women bowled out Australia for 261 runs in their second innings. (IANS)
