Teenager on pace to deliver goods

TEENAGE bowling sensation Darcie Brown has lived out a reality TV-style dream, as the 18year-old combined with a couple of established superstars in Mackay to stretch Australia’s one-day winning streak to 25 matches.

The concerns for the home team – trying to keep its world record streak alive in the international season-opener against India – were rustiness and an inexperienced bowling attack, with the top two bowlers in the world unavailable. But a stunning one-two punch from Australia’s next generation of quicks, Brown and firstgamer Hannah Darlington, put the home team on the front foot before superstar openers Rachel Haynes (93 not out) and Alyssa Healy (77) helped hammer home a comprehensive win.

Australia reached India’s target of 8-225 just one wicket down in the 41st over, with captain Meg

Lanning scoring an unbeaten 53 as Haynes fell agonisingly short of her second ODI century.

While superstar Ellyse Perry showed the effects of two weeks’ hard quarantine in the lead-up to the game, with a lacklustre opening effort in Australia’s first match since April, Brown, 18, showed the country’s bowling future is in exciting hands. Brown finished with 4-33 to become the youngest bowler to ever take four wickets in an ODI for Australia.