Smriti Mandhana created history as the opener became the first Indian woman to hit a Test century in Australia. Mandhana’s exploits have given India a sizeable headstart in the one-off Pink Ball Test against Australia.
Persistent rain once again forced play to be called off early on the second day of the pink-ball Test as India ended on 276/5 against Australia at the Carrara Oval on Thursday. Riding on a brilliant hundred from Smriti Mandhana — her maiden Test ton — the visitors are clearly calling the shots in the D/N Test.
At stumps, Deepti Sharma (12) and Taniya Bhatia (0) were unbeaten at the crease. For Australia, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, and Sophie Molineux picked a wicket each on the second day. India scored 45 runs in the second session before play was suspended due to persistent rain. The game was eventually called off as no play was possible due to the weather.
Resuming the second day on 132/1, Mandhana and Punam Raut continued with their A-game as they frustrated the Australian bowling attack. The first big highlight of the day came when Mandhana was caught by Beth Mooney at the score of 80. But turned out it was a no-ball from Ellyse Perry.
After that gift by hosts, Mandhana continued taking the attack to the opposition as she reached the three-figure mark in the 52nd over of the innings after smashing two fours off Ellyse Perry.
After the centurion was dismissed, India lost wickets quickly as Punam Raut, skipper Mithali Raj, and Yastika Bhatia all failed to score big. Interestingly, Raut decided to walk back even though the umpire hadn’t raised the finger.
Day 2 Highlights
- Rain stops play: India 276 for 3 (Sharma 12*, Bhatia 0*) vs Australia
- OUT!! Huge blow as captain Mithali Raj departs after scoring 30. IND 274/5
- OUT! Bhatia departs after Ellyse Perry finally gets a breakthrough. Yastika gets a leading edge which is caught by Beth Mooney at gully. IND 261/4
- Dinner Break on Day 2: India 231 for 3 (Raj 15*, Bhatia 2*) vs Australia
- India 224 for 3 (Raj 13*, Bhatia 2*) vs Australia
- OUT! Poonam Raut’s vigil ends, departs after a 165- ball 36. India 217/3
- OUT! Mandhana hits it straight to silly mid-off to depart for a record-breaking 127. India 195/2
- India 183 for 1 (Mandhana 119*, Raut 26*) vs Australia
- CENTURY! Smriti Mandhana has her maiden Test hundred. She has answered her critics well. IND 157/1
- India 132 for 1 (Mandhana 80*, Raut 16*) vs Australia
The first day ended with India on 132-1 and Mandhana and Punam Raut unbeaten on 80 and 16 respectively. The only wicket that fell was of Shafali Verma in the opening session. Rain had forced an early call for tea before the day was eventually called off. The remaining days of the ongoing pink-ball Test will begin 30 minutes earlier.
Resuming the second session at 101/1, the visitors managed to add 13 more runs before rain once again interrupted play. No more play was possible in the second session and the players had to remain off the park for the rest of the day.
Earlier, India openers Mandhana and Shafali brought out their attacking game to the middle to frustrate Australia in the opening session. Sent into bat, the visitors got off to a rollicking start as openers Shafali and Mandhana put on 43 runs inside the first ten overs.
Mandhana made full use of wide deliveries being bowled to her and she kept on dispatching the loose balls for boundaries. She kept on marching ahead and brought up her half-century in the 15th over of the innings. This was Mandhana’s third score of fifty-plus in Test cricket. In the first two overs, Australia’s fielding was dismal, to say the least, as they dropped quite a few chances and both openers got quite a few reprieves.
The 93-run opening stand finally came to an end in the 26th over as Sophie Molineux sent Shafali (31) back to the pavilion. In the end, Mandhana and Raut ensured that the visitors do not lose any more wickets before the interval.
