If someone was asked to describe the form of India women in tri-series, being held in Australia, then perhaps labeling it dangerous wouldn’t be off the mark. To beat a side in a T20 outfit can often seem and come easy.
But to beat a side like Australia women, in Australia, especially at the back of a crushing defeat- as borne by India Women in tri-series last week- truly calls for something special.
But 2020, it could be said, has already begun with a bang for one of the most enterprising and powerful sides in all of the women’s cricket.
Where it stands currently, then India women in tri-series- this being no ordinary outing, featuring powerhouses like England and Australia- seem set to cause a major upset, unless Australia are to reverse their sudden dip in fortunes in the upcoming game against England.
Truth be told, India women might as well play the finals of the closely-contested tri-nation T20 series that actually features 3 of the most powerful sides in the game, one that the fan might hold as being key custodians of a possible 2020 T20 World Cup triumph.
But Melbourne’s Junction Oval, on Saturday, February 8, was witness to two very high-class innings built on the invaluably correct tedium of power-hitting and the unmatched ability to find the gaps, as two unique stroke-makers from either side headlined yet another contest that finished in the very final over.
Although, this time, the hunter- the last that the two sides clashed with one another- became the hunted!
Mandhana’s Stellar Run Continues
But none of India’s victorious runs would’ve ever come easily had it not been for the glorious touch of Smriti Mandhana, among the fiercest strikers of the cricket ball in the current context of the game.
In scoring yet another defiant half-century, Mandhana contributed 55 useful runs for a side that desperately needed someone from up top to break the shackles and take the Australian attack head-on.
Who better than the fiery left-hander, who compiled off just 48 deliveries including 7 fours to set the early tempo in India’s run-chase of 174.
Could it have ever seemed easy? Surely, being asked to score at well over 8.5 an over against an attack featuring Megan Schutt, Ellyse Perry, and the new white-ball force in Sutherland and the foxy Jonassen can impose a challenge of a different ask.
But thanks largely to an opening run stand of 85, inside the 9th over, India were up and away. But implicit in this effort, it mustn’t be forgotten was the contribution of youngster Shafali Verma, whose 49 off just 28 bulldozed the famous Aussie bowling attack, an inning laced with 1 six and 8 boundaries.
Just the kind of head start India would’ve wanted after its bowlers churned out a disappointing show with noted stars like Pandey, Radha Yadav, and Gayakwad conceding one run too many in front of a belligerent Aussie batting show.
Mandhana’s knock, it ought to be reminded, might have stood out as the main talking point of a successful run-chase, but it wasn’t too much of a surprise, the Mumbai opener already getting off to flying starts in the previous contests thanks to knocks like the 45, 35 against Australia women and England women, respectively.
Ashleigh Gardner’s Form Is A Big Plus For The Aussies
But before all of that, before India women found the gaps with glee on either side during a high-octane run-chase, it was a domineering show with the bat for the Aussies thanks largely to Ashleigh Garnder.
You understand the significance of Australia’s rather imposing 173 when you realize that 93 of those came from the bat of their number. 3 – Ashleigh Gardner.
Before arriving at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, the right-hander’s highest individual T20 score was 63. But it was all set for a change as Gardner, who arrived in the opening over of the Australian inning, would bat well into the 17th over, slapping boundaries with effervescent ease to take her side to a daunting score in the end.
Although, none of that would’ve come easy as the Aussies lost Healy cheaply, yet again, in the opening over, for the second time in a row.
Although Gardner was at first, watchful and dutiful in reviving the slow Australian start alongside the experienced Beth Mooney, she changed her plans and went on attack-mode post the 4th over, bludgeoning big shots against the likes of Radha Yadav and Rajeshwarui Gayakwad.
It was an off day for the likes of Perry, who departed for 13 unlike the starry show in the last contest, and Haynes who dragged on for an unbeaten 11.
But Gardner swatting boundaries with constant ease, on both sides of the wicket, kept Australia in the hunt.
She was supported ably by the cameo of her captain Lanning who ensured that it wouldn’t come easy in yet another game for the bowlers for the India women in tri-series.
3 huge sixes, one over long-on would be the highlight of the free-scoring Garnder’s knock, who, upon the completion of her inning, took her individual T20 tally to over 530 runs.
But so defiant and determined were the Indian batters in the latter half of the contest that there seemed little chance of the Australians, suffering from an early drought of wickets to make it count, in the end.
Where it stands snow, it could be anyone’s series. While India seem safe, Australians, on the other hand, are up against a must-win clash versus the English.
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