Mooney, Gardner vault Australia to commanding win

The Indian women's team, playing their first ODI since lifting the World Cup in November, found Australia too hot to handle and were defeated comprehensively by six wickets in the first ODI in Brisbane on Tuesday (February 24).

Harmanpreet Kaur's decision to bat first upon winning the toss backfired on India, as the visitors' batting lineup came undone by the extra bounce on offer at the Allan Border Field. Pratika Rawal, making her comeback from an ankle injury that prematurely ended her World Cup campaign, lasted two deliveries as she was trapped in front by Megan Schutt for a duck. Shafali Verma, who was slotted in at No.3, failed to make a mark herself while Jemimah Rodrigues too fell cheaply to leave India in a spot of bother at 52 for 3.

That India still kept the runs coming was down to Smriti Mandhana, who laced a 68-ball 58, sharing a 48-run partnership with her captain for the fourth wicket. Mandhana's wicket saw India lose their bearings, however, as she swept Tahlia McGrath aerially, only to pick out deep backward square leg. Deepti Sharma perished soon after and the scoring rate remained pedestrian as Australia's spinners - Alana King in particular - got the ball to grip and turn. Richa Ghosh (23) failed to get going and Harmanpreet too took 79 balls to reach her fifty, even as she battled a left knee injury.

Kashvee Gautam proved to be the surprise package for India, smashing three fours and as many sixes in her breezy innings of 43. Amidst all this was a moment in the 45th over that would have evoked haunting memories from the 2024 T20 World Cup as Kranti Gaud had her bat stuck into the turf while turning back from a non-existent run. As it turned out, she just about got away although she departed in the very next over to Ashleigh Gardner, who picked up a three-fer. Gardner also had a say in the final wicket with her direct hit catching Kashvee short as India were bowled out for 214 with eight deliveries left in the innings.

In response, Australia rode on a 55-run opening stand between captain Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield with India's new ball pacers unable to get the breakthrough. Spin would come to the tourists' aid as Shree Charani found herself on a hat-trick in her first over. She first drew Litchfield out of her crease to have her stumped before Georgia Voll chipped her first ball to a diving Mandhana - who stood in for the injured Harmanpreet as captain - at extra cover.

Australia were without the services of Ellyse Perry, ruled out of the series with a quad injury, with seamer Kim Garth also ruled out for similar reasons. But that didn't hamper the hosts as Healy joined forces with Beth Mooney to forge a 64-run partnership, with the former raising a fifty in her final international outing in Brisbane. She fell right after reaching the landmark as Rodrigues pulled off an excellent leaping catch at backward point. But Mooney motored along to her own half-century to ensure that Australia remained ahead of the eight-ball curve.

With time running out, Mandhana turned to Shafali, who nearly struck in her opening over as Annabel Sutherland heaved a half-tracker, only for Kashvee to spill a sitter at deep mid-wicket. Mooney did chip the ball to Mandhana at extra cover just as Australia neared the finish line, but Sutherland sealed the deal with a six as the hosts romped home with 70 deliveries to spare.

With two ODIs still to go, India will now look to draw level in the 2nd ODI in Hobart on Friday (February 27). The multi-format series is now deadlocked at 4 points apiece, with India bagging four points courtesy of their 2-1 T20I series.

Brief Scores: India 214 all out in 48.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 58, Harmanpreet Kaur 53, Ashleigh Gardner 3-33, Megan Schutt 2-42) lost to Australia 217/4 in 38.2 overs (Beth Mooney 76, Alyssa Healy 50, Shree Charani 2-41) by 6 wickets