Brisbane, February 24: Australia triumphed over India by six wickets in the first match of the ODI series held at the Allan Border Field. With this victory, the home team has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The next two matches are scheduled to be played in Hobart on February 27 and March 1.
Winning the toss, India opted to bat but was restricted to just 214 runs in 48.3 overs. The team faced an early setback when Pratika Rawal (0) was dismissed on the second ball, failing to open her account. India lost two more wickets, with Shefali Verma (4) and Jemimah Rodrigues (8), leaving them at a precarious score of 52.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then stabilized the innings, forming a partnership of 48 runs with Smriti Mandhana for the fourth wicket, bringing the score to 100. Mandhana scored 58 runs off 68 balls, hitting seven boundaries before being dismissed. Kaur later added 37 runs for the sixth wicket with Richa Ghosh and 53 runs with Kashvi Gautam for the seventh wicket, helping India reach a respectable total.
Kaur scored 53 runs from 84 balls, including three fours, while Kashvi Gautam contributed 43 runs. Richa Ghosh chipped in with 23 runs. For Australia, Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets, while Megan Schutt claimed two. Darcy Brown, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, and Sophie Molineux each took one wicket.
In response, Australia chased down the target in just 38.2 overs. The opening pair of captain Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield provided a solid start, adding 55 runs in 10.3 overs. Litchfield scored 32 runs off 32 balls with six fours before being dismissed. The next ball saw Shree Charni take the wicket of Georgia Voll (0).
Australia lost two wickets for 55 runs. Healy then partnered with Beth Mooney, adding 64 runs in 77 balls to steer the team towards victory. Healy scored 50 runs off 70 balls, hitting four fours, while Mooney added 76 runs off 79 balls, including two sixes and five fours, before being dismissed. Annabel Sutherland remained unbeaten with 48 runs, guiding Australia to victory alongside Ashleigh Gardner (not out 5).
Shree Charni was the standout bowler for India, taking two wickets, while Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma each claimed one wicket.
