Fine half-centuries by middle-order batters Raghvi Bist and Tejal Hasabnis went in vain as India A Women lost their opening one-day match against Australia A by four wickets, with Katie Mack scoring a century for the winners here on Wednesday (August 14, 2024).
This is the fourth successive defeat for India A on their tour of Australia following their 0-3 whitewash in the T20 series in Brisbane.
India, after setting a modest victory target of 250, thanks mainly to Tejal’s 53 (67 balls, 7×4) and Raghvi’s 82 (102 balls, 6×4), were thwarted by Aussie opener Katie’s 129 (126 balls, 11×4).
Katie enjoyed fruitful half-century partnerships with fellow opener Maddy Darke (27) and Charli Knott (26) and a century stand with skipper Tahlia McGrath (56) as Australia easily won the opening game of the three-match one-day series.
India’s pace bowling stalwart Meghna Singh (2/43) and spinner Minnu Mani (2/53) took two wickets each.
With only a handful of senior Indian players in the side, India had an inauspicious start, losing openers Shweta Sehrawat (1) and Priya Punia (6) cheaply. At 56/3, India A was in dire straits but Tejal and Raghvi, both making their one-day debut for the country, stitched a 55-run partnership to take the visitors past the century mark.
Raghvi also shared half-century stands with skipper Mani and Shipra Giri (25 not out) as she gave the visitors a respectable total to defend.
Brief scores: India A 249 for 9 in 50 overs (Tejal Hasabnis 53, Raghvi Bist 82; Nicola Hancock 2/40, Maitlan Brown 4/23, Grace Parsons 2/40).
Australia A 250 for 6 in 47 overs (Katie Mack 129, Tahlia McGrath 56; Meghna Singh 2/43, Minnu Mani 2/53).
