India Women made a powerful statement at the Sydney Cricket Ground, defeating Australia by 21 runs via the DLS method in a rain-truncated series opener. Led by Arundhati Reddy’s clinical four-wicket haul and Renuka Singh’s disciplined powerplay bowling, the visitors bundled out the world champions for 133 before rain halted play with India comfortably ahead.
India Women beat Australia in a clinical display of bowling and aggressive batting, marking a significant start to their campaign Down Under. Chasing a target of 134 in 18 overs, India reached 50 for 1 in just 5.1 overs before a heavy downpour forced the officials to call off the game. Since the minimum requirement of five overs had been met, India clinched the lead in the multi-format series.
Renuka Singh Sets the Tone
The foundation of India’s dominance was laid early in the afternoon. Renuka Singh, known for her ability to swing the ball, stifled the Australian openers with an exceptional opening spell. Despite conceding two boundaries in her first over, she bounced back to bowl a maiden to Phoebe Litchfield and dismissed the dangerous Beth Mooney. Her control during the powerplay ensured Australia could not exploit the fielding restrictions effectively.
Arundhati Reddy’s Career-Best Spell
The middle overs belonged to Arundhati Reddy. Australia appeared to be recovering at 68 for 2, but a brilliant catch by captain Harmanpreet Kaur to dismiss Ellyse Perry triggered a dramatic collapse. Reddy capitalized on the momentum, removing Litchfield immediately after. Her figures of 4 for 22 represent a career milestone, as she systematically dismantled the Australian lower order.
Australia’s Batting Collapse
The home side’s decision-making came under scrutiny as they lost their final eight wickets for a mere 65 runs. While Georgia Wareham top-scored with a brisk 30, the rest of the lineup struggled against India’s disciplined attack. Notably, the omission of vice-captain Tahlia McGrath and the promotion of Georgia Wareham to number six raised eyebrows among experts. Annabel Sutherland, recently crowned the Belinda Clark Award winner, managed only 3 runs before being stumped by Richa Ghosh.
Shafali Verma’s Explosive Start
India’s chase was brief but impactful. Shafali Verma signaled her intentions by launching Kim Garth for a massive six over mid-off on just the second ball. Although she fell to Sophie Molineux—who was making her captaincy debut—for 21, the damage was already done. Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues ensured the scoreboard kept ticking, hitting three boundaries in the final over before the rain arrived.
The Impact of the DLS Method
With the match reduced to 18 overs per side initially, the DLS par score became the focal point. India’s aggressive approach in the first five overs meant they were 21 runs ahead of the required mark when play was stopped. This victory puts India in a commanding position, needing just one more win to secure a rare bilateral series victory on Australian soil.
Tactical Shifts in the Australian Camp
The start of the Sophie Molineux era saw some “curious” tactical choices. Playing without McGrath and shuffling the middle order resulted in a lack of stability. Despite having depth, the Australian batters failed to build partnerships, leading to only the sixth instance in T20I history where they were bowled out while batting first.
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