Australia’s bowlers fire to restrict India in ODI
Joel Gould |
Australia’s bowlers shone to restrict India to just 214 in the first ODI of the series after the hosts suffered injury blows before the team could be named.
Australia stars Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth were both ruled out of the ODI series before India won the toss and elected to bat at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.
Both suffered quad strains in the T20 loss to India on Saturday.
Fast bowler Megan Schutt, not originally in the squad, was called up and took a wicket with the second ball of the innings when she trapped Pratika Rawal in front for a duck.
At the other end Darcie Brown took an athletic caught and bowled to dismiss Shafali Verma (four) and put the visitors on the back foot early.
The spin of Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King and Sophie Molineux kept the pressure on with the trio claiming wickets in the middle overs to keep the run rate down.
Gardner (3-33) had the best figures but all seven bowlers used by Australia did their jobs.
Medium-pacer Tahlia McGrath claimed the key scalp of in-form opener Smriti Mandhana (58 off 68 deliveries) when she swept an innocuous leg-side delivery to deep fine leg.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (53) and big-hitting allrounder Kashvee Gautam (43) at least ensured the visitors posted a defendable total.
The fielding of Georgia Voll, who took three catches, was a highlight with her brilliant diving effort to dismiss Kaur.
Gardner finished the India innings in the 49th over when her slick flick at the stumps ran out the dangerous Gautam.
Earlier, Cricket Australia released a statement about Perry and Garth’s likely return ahead of the one-off Test at the end of the ODI series.
“Their availability for the Test match will be further assessed at the end of the ODI series pending on how they progress with rehab,” the statement said.
AAP