Litchfield keeps Aussies afloat as Indian teen shines
Steve Barrett |
Teenager Titas Sadhu’s sensational four-wicket on haul on debut has helped India skittle Australia for 141 in the first women’s Twenty20 international in Navi Mumbai.
The 19-year-old seamer left Australia’s top order in tatters at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday (Saturday AEDT) before Phoebe Litchfield (49) and Ellyse Perry (37) came to the tourists’ rescue.
After Australia crashed to 4-33 at the end of the six-over powerplay, rising star Litchfield and established legend Perry put on 79 before another 6-29 collapse had India powerfully placed at the halfway stage.
Sadhu struck with her fifth delivery when Beth Mooney (17) spooned a catch to mid-on where Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur took the first of her women’s T20I record-equalling four catches.
Harmanpreet snared her second catch to dismiss opposite number Alyssa Healy (8) off Renuka Singh before Sadhu picked up two more wickets in her second over, Tahlia McGrath (0) miscuing a catch to Pooja Vastrakar and Ash Gardner (0) caught and bowled.
At that stage Sadhu had 3-3 from two overs and Australia had lost 4-5 in 14 balls.
In-form Litchfield, named player of the recently-completed 50-over series after scoring 260 runs at 86.67, led the recovery.
Litchfield, shortlisted as the ICC’s emerging woman player of the year earlier in the week, should have been gone for 27 when she skied a reverse-sweep which fell between Jemimah Rodrigues and Renuka, but the 20-year-old otherwise batted superbly.
But within touching distance of a fourth successive white-ball half-century, she spooned Amanjot Kaur to Harmanpreet, which sparked another procession of wickets.
Sadhu returned to the attack in the 18th over and removed Annabel Sutherland (12) for her fourth scalp, also fleetingly believing she had a five-for when Georgia Wareham was lbw first ball before the Australian reviewed successfully.
Perry lofted spinner Deepti Sharma (2-24) to Amanjot in the deep in the 19th over as India, showcasing a greatly improved bowling and fielding display, pressed home their advantage.
AAP
