THE historic pink-ball Test between Indian and Australian women’s teams at the Metricon Stadium in Queensland, Australia, was off to a dull start on Thursday (30) as rain played spoilsport.
Australia captain Meg Lanning won the toss and sent Mithali Raj’s team to bat first. The visitors had a solid start with openers Smirti Mandhana (80 not out off 144 balls) and Shafali Verma (31 off 64) put up 93 runs in 25.1 overs. Spinner Sophie Molineux made the first strike for the hosts by picking Verma but that remained their only success on the rain-curtailed day.
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Only 44.1 overs could be bowled on the first day and India were nicely placed at 132 for 1 with Punam Raut (16 not out off 57) giving company to Mandhana who bettered his previous best score of 78 in this innings. It was her third fifty in this format. Australian spearheads Elysse Perry and Darcir Brown failed to pick any wicket with the latter even conceding seven runs an over.
Rain forecast for Friday (1) was not too encouraging either although full day’s play was expected over the weekend. The starting time of the game for the remaining days of the match has now been brought ahead by 30 minutes.
India and Australia are playing a Test match after a gap of 15 years.
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