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Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland shared a steady, unbeaten partnership of 38 runs to guide Australia to 96/3 in 27 overs at stumps on the opening day of the one-off pink-ball Test against India at the WACA Ground. The hosts are now trailing India by 102 runs after Day 1 play.
India bowled out for 198
Earlier in the day, India were bowled out for 198. When Australia came out to bat under the lights, the conditions were not easy, and the Indian bowlers made early breakthroughs. Phoebe Litchfield was dismissed cheaply by debutant pacer Kranti Gaud, while Australian captain Alyssa Healy managed only 13 runs in what could be her second-last international appearance.
Sayali Satghare made an early impact
Another debutant, Sayali Satghare, made an impact as she removed both Healy and Georgia Voll. With Australia at 58 for 3, the Indian bowlers looked in control for a while. However, Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland then came together and tried to shift the momentum of the game after early wickets.
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Perry's confident batting shifted the momentum
Perry looked confident at the crease and remained unbeaten on 43 from 62 balls, hitting seven boundaries. Sutherland supported her well and was not out on 20 off 29 balls, which included three fours. Their partnership helped Australia recover after the early setbacks.
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Australia were cautious in the final session
The final session started with Australia playing cautiously, not scoring a boundary for the first four overs. Meanwhile, India’s innings had ended just two runs short of 200 when Darcie Brown dismissed Kranti Gaud, whose mistimed pull shot was caught at first slip.
While chasing India’s total of 198, Australia lost Georgia Voll early. Sayali bowled a sharp inswinger that went through her defence and dismissed her for two runs. Perry then joined Litchfield at the crease and looked comfortable, playing a nice cover drive off Sayali for a boundary.
India soon struck again when Litchfield was dismissed for nine. Her short stay at the crease ended when Jemimah Rodrigues took a brilliant low catch at backward point off Kranti Gaud.
Alyssa Healy, who is playing her final international match, received a warm standing ovation from the Perth crowd when she came out to bat. However, she could not stay long and was caught by Jemimah Rodrigues at backward point off Sayali for 13 runs.
At that stage, India’s fast bowlers were bowling well and putting pressure on the Australian batters. But Perry gradually became more confident, playing some fine cuts and drives. Sutherland also looked positive from the start, hitting a crisp drive through extra cover and a strong pull shot behind square.
India used only fast bowlers for most of the innings and brought in spinner Sneh Rana only in the final over of the day. However, Perry and Sutherland handled her comfortably and ensured there were no further wickets before stumps.
Although India made a good start with the ball, they would have hoped to take a few more wickets. Australia are now in a solid position and will aim to build a big score and take the first-innings lead when play resumes on Day 2 of the clash.
Brief scores:
India 198 all out in 62.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 52, Shafali Verma 35; Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) lead Australia 96/3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43 not out, Annabel Sutherland 20 not out; Sayali Satghare 2-24, Kranti Gaud 1-28) by 102 runs
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