PTI
Birmingham, July 29
India pacer Renuka Singh’s dream spell did not prove good enough as Australia came back from the brink to pull off a three-wicket win in the first Group A match here today.
The target of 155 for Australia should have been a straightforward chase but Singh, playing in her seventh T20I, mowed down the Australian batting with figures of 4/18 in four overs.
With Australia teetering at 49/5, India should have completed the job but allowed Ashleigh Gardner (52 not out off 35 balls) to change the game with two impressive stands – 51 with Grace Harris (37) and 47 with Alana King (18 not out).
In the end, Australia overcame the target comfortably, showing that the reigning T20I and ODI world champions can win from the bleakest of situations. Gardner’s innings was one to remember as she played with the tail to knock off the runs.
The Powerplay overs belonged to Singh, who produced a brilliant spell of fast bowling. She removed the dangerous Alyssa Healy in the first over before getting rid of Beth Mooney and skipper Meg Lanning. A sharp in-swinger led to the downfall of the aggressive Tahlia McGrath, making it 34/4 as India ran riot.
However, the Indians lost the momentum when left-arm spinners Radha Yadav (0/42) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (0/24) gave away 66 runs in six overs between them.
Earlier, Shafali Verma (48 off 33) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (52 off 34) entertained the Edgbaston crowd with exciting strokeplay while the others disappointed.
Smriti Mandhana, facing pacer Darcie Brown on the first ball of the competition, marked the beginning of a pivotal point in women’s cricket, with the game aiming to reach the Olympics via the CWG route.
India lost their way in the last five overs, with five wickets falling for 39 runs.
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