Opener’s maiden ton puts India in control

SMRITI Mandhana notched her maiden Test century before an Australia fightback slowed India’s charge on Friday in the pink-ball, day-night Test at Metricon Stadium.

When the second day’s play was suspended 73 minutes into the second session due to lightning and a subsequent hail storm, India was 5-276 in the 102nd over, with Deepti Sharma on 12 and Taniya Bhatia yet to score.

The tourists were in total command of the contest at 1-195 in the 69th over when opener Mandhana’s marvellous innings finally came to an end. Attempting to drive offspinner Ashleigh Gardner, she was caught at short mid-off by Tahlia McGrath for 127 from 216 balls.

The dismissal ended a 102 second-wicket partnership between Mandhana and the steady Punam Raut.

Raut’s honesty proved costly for India in the 81st over with the total at 217. Having clawed her way to 36, she edged leftarm spinner Sophie Molineux to wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy.

Despite umpire Phil Gillespie turning down Australia’s appeal, Raut walked to give Molineux her second wicket of the match. India lost two more wickets – those of Yastika Bhatia (18) and captain Mithali Raj (30) – before players were forced off the field.

One went to Ellyse Perry (1-54 off 18 overs) who, with the aid of a Beth Mooney catch in the gully, claimed the scalp of Bhatia.

It was Perry’s first wicket of the multi-format, seven-match series.

She had struggled with the ball in the three one-day internationals played in Mackay.

Raj was batting well before setting off for a needless single that wasn’t on.

Debutante Annabel Sutherland did the rest, with a direct hit catching the Indian skipper short of her crease.