On the last ball of the first over, Phoebe Litchfield was run out after a misunderstanding with Beth Mooney, who tapped a delivery by Renuka Singh to the right of backward point and Jemimah Rodrigueshad ample time to sense the opportunity at the batting end as Litchfield was ball-watching instead of responding to Mooney’s call and running to the other end.Rodrigues threw the ball to the keeperYastika Bhatia who removed the bails as Litchfield collected a diamond duck.
Next batter in Ellyse Perry was clean bowled by Pooja Vastrakar on the fourth ball of the next over with a delivery that came back in. Vastrakar bowled on a good length and got the ball wobbling in through the bat-pad gate. Perry was looking to defend down the ground but there was so much gap between bat and pad and that was just enough to disturb the woodwork.
It was a dream start for India as both Phoebe and Perry had gone in the space of five balls after Australia had chosen to bat first.
This is the first women’s Test that Australia are playing in India in 40 years. The last time was in February 1984. It has been the only women’s Test that the Wankhede has hosted in its rich history.
Having dismantled England by a record 347-run margin on a turner at the DY Patil Stadium last week, the India team will look to ensnare Australia in a similar spin trap in their endeavour to record a maiden Test win against the undisputed rulers of the women’s game.
India would also look to draw inspiration from the last Test against Australia – a drawn Test played with the pink ball in Carrara, Gold Coast – on the back of Smriti Mandhana‘s sparkling 127 in the first innings.