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The Indian women's cricket team on December 24 (Sunday) created history at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Indian women's team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, defeated Australia by a convincing margin of 8 wickets and registered the country's first-ever Test win against the mighty Australian women's team.
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Throughout the first three days of the match, India maintained a steady lead, culminating in a swift and decisive action on Sunday, December 24. The final day's play began with Pooja Vastrakar making an immediate impact, dismissing Ashleigh Gardner in her very first over. Australia struggled to add to their overnight score, facing setbacks with the loss of their senior players early on.
Despite efforts by Annabel Sutherland and Jess Jonassen to stabilize the innings, spinner Sneh Rana delivered a critical blow with a double-wicket over in the 101st over, leading to Australia's collapse. Rajeshwari Gaikwad further compounded Australia's troubles, swiftly dismantling their batting lineup and ending their second innings at 261 runs.
India, needing just 75 runs to seal the win, faced initial setbacks with the early loss of Shafali Varma. Despite Varma's brisk start, which included a striking boundary off Kim Garth, she succumbed to an outswinger from the Australian pacer just before the lunch break. Smriti Mandhana then took charge, steering India to victory. Richa Ghosh also contributed significantly before losing her wicket in an attempt to hit Gardner for a six. Mandhana's game-winning shot, a lofted straight drive off Jess Jonassen, marked the historic win for India.
The Test match was a showcase of India's dominance in both batting and bowling. India first displayed their prowess by bowling out Australia for a mere 219 runs. Vastrakar was a standout performer, claiming 4 wickets, while Rana took 3, targeting the lower order effectively. The Indian batting lineup then took center stage, amassing 406 runs in the first innings. While no player reached a century, half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, debutant Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma laid a solid foundation. Vastrakar's valuable 47 further bolstered India's total, adding to Australia's difficulties.
In their second innings, Australia initially showed promise but faltered due to a mix of good bowling and errors, like Beth Mooney's crucial mistake. Despite getting starts, they lost wickets steadily against the disciplined Indian attack.
The pitch's inconsistent bounce on the final day played a role in Australia's second innings downfall, as they were bowled out for 261, setting India a modest target of 75. India's pursuit was efficient, reaching the target in just 18.4 overs. This victory continued India's dominant run at home in 2023, following a massive win against England by 347 runs.
The success against Australia, considered one of the best teams in women's Test cricket, was particularly noteworthy. It highlighted the growing prowess of the Indian team in the longer format of the game. The Indian stars, who have been vocal about their desire for more red-ball cricket, will likely hope that their back-to-back impressive performances will lead to more Test fixtures in the future. This victory not only underscores the skill and potential of the Indian women's cricket team but also marks a significant moment in the sport's development in the country.
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