Rain ruins first T20 vs Australia
CHANDIGARH: Jemimah Rodrigues would have been the most disappointed as she walked back with Richa Ghosh in the rain with India a solid 131/4 in 15.2 overs. She had smashed a 36-ball 49, but the rain didn’t stop and she didn’t get a deserved halfcentury as the first T20 against Australia was abandoned.
Rodrigues, who had a brilliant first season for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred in England, scoring 249 runs with a top score of 92*, came to Australia on a high. The 21-year-old though didn’t find a place in the ODIS or the pink-ball Test. She was a substitute fielder, even translator for some of her teammates during interviews.
Playing her first match of the tour, Rodrigues showed her form was intact. She used the pace of the ball, collected quick runs behind the wicket and hit some shots through extra-cover. She became the youngest to reach 1,000 runs in T20IS during her innings.
Batting at No.3, Rodrigues joined Shafali Verma after Smriti Mandhana was out for 17. Verma and Mandhana gave a quick start, scoring 31 in 3.2 overs. Verma was in explosive form as she collected her 18 runs off three sixes. Lanky Australian pacer Tayla Vlaeminck impressed by bowling at 145 kph twice in the first over.
India reached 50 in 5.1 overs. Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner scalped Mandhana and Verma, which brought skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Kaur too was in an attacking mode hitting 12 runs off five balls with three fours before left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux trapped her in front. Rodrigues and left-handed debutant Yastika Bhatia then raised 51 runs for the fourth wicket as
India reaching 100 in 11.1 overs.
On 15, Bhatia holed out to long on off spinner Georgia Wareham. Richa Ghosh was on 17 at when rain arrived with Rodrigues on 49 (36 b, 7x4).
The no result meant Australia moved up to seven points. They need to win one of the two T20s to claim this multi-format series. India (5 pts) must win both.
“It is so good to be back in the team and contributing with the bat. I was not disappointed not being picked for the games as long as the team management found the right balance,” Rodrigues said. “I did have that intent, going out there and doing my bit for the team. I kept questioning when will my time come while sitting on the bench,” she said, attributing her good form to The Hundred. “It really helped me gain confidence, I think I could tour Australia owing to that form,” said Rodrigues, who struggled at home against South Africa and against England.
“I was nervous ahead of today’s game but I spoke to my parents and they read out one of the Bible’s scriptures saying, “God began in me, he will finish. We played a very fearless brand of cricket today and that’s why we dominated.”
Brief scores: India 131/4 in 15.2 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 49*; Ashleigh Gardner 2/28) vs Australia. No result.