India leaves Australia at 143/4, stays on top
GOLD COAST: India dictated terms to Australia, which did everything it could to survive the difficult overs under lights and finish the third day of the rain-marred pink ball Test at 143 for four here on Saturday.
At stumps, Australia trailed the visitor by 234 runs after veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami (2 for 27) bowled beautifully and struck twice to leave the host at 63 for two at one stage. India declared its first innings at 377 for eight.
Mithali Raj’s side was lucky as the umpire gave Australia captain Meg Lanning (38) out wrongly, raising his finger despite an inside edge and bringing her ominous stay in the middle to an end. On that occasion, the bowler was Pooja Vastrakar (2 for 31).
There was a fair bit of dew and that obviously did not help the India bowlers, who kept things tight for a major part of the Australia innings. After Tahlia McGrath (28) hit Pooja’s wide and short delivery straight to Smriti Mandhana at point to leave the home team at 119 for four, Jhulan was brought back but Ellyse Perry (27 batting) and Ashleigh Gardner (13 batting) survived.
The dismissal of Lanning raised questions about the absence of DRS, which was supposed to be a part of the game but the organiser could not go ahead with its plans.
Australia recovered nicely after losing opener Beth Mooney early as the duo of Alyssa Healy (29) and skipper Lanning not only steadied the ship but also played some exquisite shots. However, shortly before the break, Jhulan delivered for the tourist with her magnificent bowling.
Earlier, India got the timing of its declaration right considering that batting is most difficult in the second session of a day. For the away side, Deepti Sharma made a fine 66 (167 balls, 8 fours), finishing as the team’s second-best scorer, a day after opener Mandhana’s maiden hundred in the format.
Brief scores: India Women (1st innings) 377/8 decl. in 145 overs (S Mandhana 127, D Sharma 66); Australia Women (1st innings) 143/4 in 60 overs (M Lanning 38, J Goswami 2/27)