IND-W vs AUS-W Test: Deepti, Vastrakar restore India Women’s command in opposition to Australia on Day 2

A sturdy 102-run unbeaten stand between Deepti Sharma (70) and Pooja Vastrakar (33) restored India Women’s command in opposition to Australia on the second day of the continued one-off Test, stretching the house staff’s first-innings result in 157 right here on Friday.

India reached 376 for seven in reply to Australia’s 219 with its resolute batting present spruced up by Smriti Mandhana’s 74, Jemimah Rodrigues’ 73 and a positive 52 from debutant Richa Ghosh.

Deepti and Vastrakar got here collectively after India misplaced 4 fast wickets for a mere 14 runs to cede benefit to Australia, as their resistance flattened the guests, who used eight bowling choices, with solely Ashleigh Gardner (4/100) making an influence.

India vs Australia Day 2 Highlights

The right-arm off-spinner Gardner, coming off an eight-wicket spell within the girls’s Ashes Test, troubled the Indians essentially the most as she saved nibbling away with essential wickets whereas being persistent with probing line and lengths.

But the Indians finally wrested again management, using on the sumptuous partnership between Deepti and Vastrakar, who had been a mere 5 runs away from recording the most effective eighth-wicket stand for India Women when Stumps had been drawn.

While Deepti cracked 9 fours to make 70 not out off 147 balls, it was Vastrakar whose ascent as one among India’s reliable gamers continued.

Having returned figures of 4 for 53 on the primary day, Vastrakar reached 33 not out from 115 balls with 4 boundaries.

However, the highlights of the day had been kids Ghosh (52) and Rodrigues (73) taking aside the Australian bowlers with disdain, placing on 113 runs for the facet’s second-best partnership for the fourth wicket.

In her maiden outing with the bat in Tests, Ghosh placed on a positive present of assault and resilience, cracking seven fours in her 104-ball innings whereas producing strokes on each the perimeters of the pitch.

Richa Ghosh together with her dad and mom after Day 2 of the Test match between India and Australia on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/The Hindu

But Ghosh additionally had Ellyse Perry, who spilled a sitter at mid-off, to thank when the Indian batter mistimed one off Gardner on 14.

However, she grew to become the 14th Indian batter to attain a fifty on debut, becoming a member of Rodrigues and Shubha Satheesh to have executed so within the span of the final 10 days or so.

Rodrigues displayed her management and finesse, particularly with the sweep shot, accumulating a majority of her runs (63 per cent) on the leg facet whereas making a positive 73 off 121 balls with 9 hits to the fence.

Notching up a second consecutive fifty in as many Tests, Rodrigues appeared primed for a maiden century too however she had solely herself in charge after hitting one straight to Annabel Sutherland at extra-cover off Gardner.

With the pitch offering variable bounce, every of the Indian batters who obtained runs showcased immaculate method in anticipating the bounce and trusting their defence, which was not the case for just a few others.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (0) lasted for under two balls as she was gradual to react to a supply from Gardner which saved low and struck her pads in entrance of the leg-stump.

India slipped additional and misplaced the benefit when Yastika Bhatia (1) dedicated herself too early right into a shot to overlook a sweep off Gardner and was adjudged leg-before.

Earlier within the day, in a single day batters Mandhana and Sneh Rana (9) introduced up their 50-run stand for the second wicket earlier than Gardner cleaned up the latter.

Smriti was additionally fortunate as an outdoor edge off Garner flew previous the diving Beth Mooney at first slip.

But it was heartbreak for Mandhana when she was run out, having danced down the monitor and hit to backward level on the lookout for a single.

Mandhana was somewhat hesitant however seeing her accomplice Ghosh sprinting from the opposite finish, she made a splash however fell quick when the stumps had been damaged by Gardner whereas accumulating a fast throw from Kim Garth.

The Indian vice-captain made 74 off 106 balls with 12 fours.