Queensland: Smriti Mandhana put on a batting masterclass helping India women reach 132/1 at stumps on a rain hit Day 1 the Womens Test against Australia at the Carrera Oval in Queensland on Thursday(September 30).The Mumbai south paw was unbeaten on 80 off 144 along with Punam Raut(16) at closure of the day’s play with rain intervening persistently.
After being sent in to bat, Mandhana along side Shafali Verma(31) gave India women a solid start stitching together a 93-run partnership before the latter sliced one from left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux in the air finding Tahila Mcgrath after looking settled for a big innings. Both the openers looked confident right from start putting away bad deliveries constantly.
Mandhana though,kept the scoreboard ticking and brought up her half-century. She hit fifteen boundaries in an innings that was played with good temperament as well as grace. However, Rain twice halted play and the officials were forced to call early Stumps due to inclement weather. India through will look to continue the good show with the bat on Day 2 after such a good platform being laid by their openers.
Brief Scores: India 132/1(Smriti Mandhana 80, Shafali Verma 31;Sophie Molineux 1/18)
