IND vs AUS, 1st T20I: India thrashes Australia by nine-wickets; Titas, Smriti-Shafali shine

These are early days for Titas Sadhu in worldwide cricket, however that includes in her fifth T20I, the 19-year-old bowler shone the brightest for India. The Bengal pacer’s four-fer (4 for 17) restricted Australia to 141 and finally paved the way in which for the house workforce’s nine-wicket win within the first T20I on the D.Y. Patil Stadium right here on Friday.

Titas unsettled the Australian top-order with a three-wicket opening burst, and made positive that the touring aspect, approaching the again of a convincing 3-0 win within the ODIs, couldn’t bounce again.  

With 4 pacers in its ranks, India gained the toss and opted to area and Titas dominated the present, with ready help from Amanjot Kaur and Shreyanka Patil who additionally claimed two wickets apiece. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: IND-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Highlights: India thrashes Australia by 9 wickets to take serie lead

Titas’ key opening spell left Australia reeling at 33 for 4. Barring two events when it put the in-form Phoebe Litchfield down, Indian fielders displayed an improved present. In the center of a purple patch (which concerned two fifties and a ton within the ODIs), Litchfield has as soon as once more top-scored for Australia along with her essential 49 and cast a 79-run stand with Ellyse Perry to launch a fightback. Soon sufficient, Deepti, Shreyanka and Amanjot additionally obtained among the many wickets, with Australia bowled out for its lowest complete batting first within the format since March 2021.

Harmanpreet Kaur took 4 catches towards Australia and India too placed on an improved efficiency on the sector within the first T20I.
| Photo Credit:
Sportzpics for BCCI

This was the primary time because the T20 World Cup opener in 2020 that Australia was bowled out in a girls’s T20 innings. 

Chasing low targets will not be at all times easy. However, India rode on a 137-run opening wicket partnership between Smriti Mandhana (54, 52b; 7×4, 1×6) and Shafali Verma (64 n.o., 44b, 6×4, 3×6). While Smriti anchored the innings, Shafali was at her aggressive finest to mark her return to kind. Recently, Shafali has typically did not play lengthy innings regardless of regular begins. However, she toyed with the Australian bowlers and located her mojo. 

Even after Smriti fell shortly after reaching her half century, Shafali and Jemimah helped India earn a 1-0 lead within the three-match sequence.