http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 start series with a win
Australia women started their tour of India on a high note as they clinched a 30-run win against the hosts in the first ODI of the 3-match series today on March 12, at the Sardar http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Huzefa-Mohammed-Patel-c63657 Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.
Fresh from their victory in the practice game against the Indian Board President’s XI, the visitors opted to bat first upon winning the toss.
The tourists’ innings were opened by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rachael-Louise-Haynes-c83221, but got off to a shaky start, with the first wicket falling at 20 in the 6th over – Poulton at 17. However, what followed was an impressive partnership between Haynes (41) and
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Reema-Malhotra-c84471, but the top order left the team at a steady 108 for 3.
The Aussies' early middle-order failed to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jodie-Maree-Fields-c67118 managed to set a strong example for her faltering team, with an unbeaten
a-run-a-ball 64. She was aided in the run-chase by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Erin-Alyse-Osborne-c56181 (27), bringing her team up to 227 for 8 at the end of 50 overs.
The Indian bowlers were economical, with Malhotra claiming a scalp at the expense of 29 runs in 7 overs, while Bisht gave away 30 runs in 10 overs, and took a wicket to boot. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rumeli-Dhar-c87107 remained the star of the Indian bowling attack, with 4 wickets to her
name.
The host team stepped up to the crease with a target of 228, but were unable to succeed in the chase. Openers, wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Naik-c78500 was bowled
out by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sharon-Millanta-c89786 in the 12th over.
Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mithali-Raj-c76407 on duck, Raut on 36, and Dhar on a duck as well, leaving
the team at 77 for 5 in the 26th over.
Middle-order batter, Harmanpreet Kaur, stepped up to the challenge remarkably, contributing a significant 57 to her faltering team’s total. She was joined at the crease by Malhotra (19), and they worked their way up to 108 after which the latter was bowled
out by Perry.
What little chance the hosts appeared to have had crumbled with the wicket of Kaur in the 47th over. She left her side at 185 for 7, but with a little more than 3 overs left, and 43 runs required, the prospect of victory looked bleak.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Archana-Das-c45330 (6) and Bisht (4), were predictably unsuccessful in reaching the target, with the visitors cutting them off at 197 at the end of 50 overs.
Perry and Sthalekar remained the most prominent Aussie bowlers, taking two wickets apiece, while Jonassen, Millanta, and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Julie-Lauren-Hunter-c69645 claimed one scalp each. While Osborne did not succeed in taking any wickets, her intense bowling allowed the hosts only
16 runs in 5 overs.
With the Australian team leading the series 1-0, the second ODI is scheduled for March 14 at the Wankhede Stadium in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820.
Tags: