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Defending champions Australia outclassed India in the first warm-up match before the women’s T20 World Cup 2023 which will begin later this week in South Africa. India got all out for 85 in run chase of 130, courtesy Darcie Brown as they suffered a major batting collapse in the first 10 overs at Newlands, Cape Town on February 6.
India's run chase got off to a horrific start. Jemimah Rodrigues got dismissed for a two-ball duck in first over by Kim Garth. Brown then struck twice in her first over. After winning inaugural Under-19 women's T20 World Cup, Shafali could score just two runs whereas rusty Smriti Mandhana got out for a three-ball duck. Richa Ghosh (5) became Brown's third victim in her next over. Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia could not capitalise either and got out lbw to Ashleigh Gardner after scoring seven runs. Harleen Deol (12) hit two boundaries but she got run out, thanks to Lanning's direct hit. India lost six wickets for 44 runs after 6.2 overs.
The collapse continued. Pooja Vastrakar hit a couple of boundaries before losing her wicket to Ellyse Perry. Gardner struck again to get the better of Shikha Pandey whereas Radha Yadav became Jess Jonassen's only victim. Deepti tried to carry the run chase on her back with Anjali Sarvani. The partnership showed promise but Brown returned to dismiss Anjali (11). Deepti remained unbeaten for 19 off 22 deliveries including three fours. Only three batters scored in double digits as India got all out for 85 in 15 overs and lost the match by 44 runs.
Earlier, Lanning won the toss and opted to field first. Wicketless since her return, Pandey struck in her first over to remove Lanning for a three-ball duck. In her second over, she got the wicket of Tahlia McGrath (2) who played it back to the bowler. The pressure got to the Aussies as Perry (1) was caught short of the crease by Yadav's direct hit. Australia found themselves struggling at 10/3 after four overs.
Opener Beth Mooney and Gardner's fourth-wicket partnership helped Australia recover. Gardner scored at a brisk pace and scored 22 runs from 17 deliveries before giving a catch to Vastrakar on follow through. In the next over, Mooney (28) got dismissed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad as Australia lost half their side for 58. Vastrakar struck again to remove Grace Harris (4) whereas Radha got rid of Annabel Sutherland (4) and Heather Graham (8) to reduce Australia for 79/8 in 15.4 overs.
In the slog overs, the unbeaten 50-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Georgia Wareham and Jonassen helped Australia post 129/8. Wareham scored 32 runs from 17 deliveries including one four and three sixes whereas Jonassen scored 14-ball 22 including four fours.
