Brisbane ODI: Half centuries from Harmanpreet and Mandhana, India set the target of 214 runs for Australia.

Brisbane. Despite half-centuries from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, the Indian team was all out for 214 runs in the first women’s ODI against Australia here on Tuesday. Spinner Ashley Gardner was the most successful bowler from Australia.

He took three wickets for 33 runs in seven overs. Fast bowlers Megan Schutt and Lucy Hamilton were included in Australia’s squad at the last minute after Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry were ruled out of the three-match series with injuries. After India won the toss and came out to bat first, Megan dismissed Pratika Raval with her fast inswinger ball on the second ball of the first over of the match.

Raval was playing a match for the national team for the first time after recovering from an ankle injury suffered during India’s victory in the ODI World Cup played at home last year. Shefali Verma (04) disappointed while batting at number three for the first time. He gave a direct catch to Darcy Brown. Mandhana (58 runs in 68 balls) hit consecutive fours on the slip cordon. His drives were also spectacular.

Australia’s spinners maintained the pressure in the middle overs and Gardner had Jemimah Rodrigues (08) caught by the wicketkeeper on a full length ball. After the dismissal of Mandhana and Deepti Sharma (02), Harmanpreet (53 runs in 84 balls) tried to handle the innings.

However, she too was out after playing a sweep shot in the deep off Gardner’s ball. Richa Ghosh scored 23 runs. Kashvi Gautam (43 runs in 44 balls) took the score beyond 200 runs. He hit a total of three sixes, including a spectacular six over long-on off Megan.