The one-off Test looked even until the third day, with Australia hoping to set a 200-plus target for India. But India entered the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday morning with a plan and determination.
Over the next three hours and 15 minutes, the home team executed their tactics to perfection to seal an eight-wicket win – their first ever Test win against Australia.
IND vs AUS Test: Highlights, Day 4
Winning two Test matches in a row within a week is never easy, but India built on their success against England and maintained their complete dominance over Australia to make a strong statement. The lack of experience in playing Test cricket was not reflected even once in India’s performance, and the way they were able to wrap up the Australian innings on the final day, picking the last five wickets for just 28 runs, spoke volumes about the team’s resilience.
Resuming at 233 for 5, Australia needed a strong partnership to move forward. However, Sneh Rana (4 for 63) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2 for 42) had other plans. After troubling the touring side in the first innings, Pooja Vastrakar provided the early breakthrough by trapping Ashleigh Gardner’s leg before being bowled off by a good yorker in the second over of the day.
India tightened the noose when Rana bowled aggressively after taking three wickets in the first over. Having lost a wicket early, the onus was on Annabel Sutherland, but she fell to Rana trying to play a sweep and wide to catch Yastika Bhatia behind the stumps.
Harmanpreet Kaur of India presents the trophy to Rajashree Gayakwad of India after the Test match between India (women) and Australia (women) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. | Image source: Emmanuel Eugenie/The Hindu
But the umpire did not rule in India’s favour, forcing the Indian camp to refer to the TV umpire in time. This decision favored India and ultimately led to the downfall of Australia.
Rana added another wicket to her tally off the next ball before Gayakwad wrapped up the innings with two quick hits.
India needed 75 runs with over two sessions remaining. Shafali Verma started with a boundary before getting rid of Kem Garth in the first over. Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 38 (61b, 6 x 4) and put together a crucial 51-run partnership for the second wicket with Richa Ghosh.
Debutant Richa, who had scored a fifty in the first innings, was given an early reprieve as she was dropped by Beth Mooney at first slip off Gardner. However, she calmed her nerves and contacted Mandana to guide the team towards home.
By the time Tahlia McGrath caught her at mid-wicket, India were 20 points away from a historic victory. Jemima Rodriguez struck a couple of overs to accelerate India’s run to victory before Mandhana sealed it with a boundary.