MATCH REPORT
Follow UsOn August 14 (Wednesday), the Indian A top-order yet again failed in the first List A clash in Mackay against Australia A. After being inserted to bat first, India got off to the best start possible, scoring six runs off the very first ball.
However, from thereon, it was a stellar bowling display from Nicola Hancock, who ran through the Indian openers — Shweta Sehrawat (1) and Priya Punia (6) — to leave the visitors reeling at 11/2.
India were in desperate need of a partnership, with their hopes pinned on Karnataka’s Shubha Sateesh and Tejal Hasabnis to drive the scoreboard forward. It was Hasabnis who took charge with twin boundaries in the fifth over.
Some tight lines from Tahlia McGrath saw the end of Sateesh, who walked off after scoring a 32-ball 16. That didn’t stop Hasabnis from attacking, as she found a boundary immediately after. Raghvi Bist picked up from Hasabnis, welcoming Grace Parson with a boundary.
The duo continued their attack, finding boundaries in a free-flowing manner before Parsons got Hasabnis just after she reached her half-century. India’s skipper Minnu Mani stitched up a 52-run stand with Bist. But she became Parsons second wicket of the clash.
Crucial contributions from lower down the order — Shipra Giri (25) and Sayali Satghare (9) — alongside Bist’s 102-ball 82 took the visitors to 249/9 after their 50 overs. For the hosts, it was Maitlan Brown who put on a show, finishing with figures of 4/23, which included the scalp of the dangerous-looking Bist.
Australia A started strong with the openers — Katie Mack and Maddy Darke — putting on a 50-run partnership. Just when it looked like they were going to make it big, Mani removed Darke.
Charlie Knott joined Mack as the duo added 65-runs before Mani ran out the former. With Tahlia McGrath at the crease, the Australians continued to assert their dominance in this series.
But India could have put a quick end to her innings had Sayali Satghare not put down a catch off her own bowling with McGrath still on 10. Unperturbed, Mack continued her form with a sublime 129 off 126 balls, an innings laced with 11 boundaries.
Eventually, Mani removed McGrath after the pair had already added122 runs and the Aussies needing13 more for a dominant win. Late drama prevailed when Indian bowlers made a comeback with Meghna Singh removing Mack and triggering a mini-collapse.
The next two overs saw the hosts lose two more wickets before Kate Peterson hit the winning runs to seal a 1-0 lead for the women in yellow in the three-match List-A series.
Brief Scores:
India A Women 249/9 in 50 overs (Raghavi Bist 82, Tejal Hasabnis 53; Maitlan Brown 4/23) lost to Australia A Women 250/6 in 47 overs (Katie Mack 129, Tahlia McGrath 56; Meghna Singh 2/43) by 4 wickets
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