In a match that slipped away faster than expected, Australia handed India a six-wicket thrashing in the first women’s ODI in Brisbane. The home side overhauled 215 with ease, wrapping up the chase in 38.2 overs.
Smriti Mandhana, leading in Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence, was candid about the collapse. Filling in as skipper, she said, ‘Early wickets hurt us badly. Recovery was attempted, but the pitch played differently than planned.’
Kaur’s knee injury sidelined her after a gritty 53. Mandhana hopes for her quick return, though details remain unclear.
No panic changes to the team, vowed Mandhana. ‘Our form is solid; we stick with the lineup despite this setback.’
Opting to bat, India managed 214, powered by Mandhana’s 58, Kaur’s 53, Gautam’s 43, and Ghosh’s 23. But Australia’s Mooney (76 off 79) and Healy (50 off 70) dismantled the target effortlessly.
The defeat exposes batting frailties against probing Australian attack. Mandhana called for collective responsibility: ‘We need to build partnerships and set bigger scores as one.’
With the series at stake, India must regroup swiftly to level terms in Brisbane.