Australia is in desperate need of early wickets on the second day of its historic Test against India after the hosts dominated the opening day in Mumbai.
Smriti Mandhana was 43 not out and Sneh Rana unbeaten on four at stumps as a 90-run opening stand between Shafali Verma and Mandhana put India in the driver’s seat.
Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield’s first taste of Test cricket in India turned to disaster when she was run out without facing a ball.
Australia was reeling at 2-7 after a mix-up between Litchfield and Beth Mooney and a Ellyse Perry’s early dismissal off the bowling of seamer Pooja Vastrakar.
Vastrakar extracted plenty of movement from the Mumbai pitch, dazzling the Australians with 4-53 from 16 overs.
Tahlia McGrath (50), Mooney (40) and captain Alyssa Healy (38) got starts but were unable to convert into the big score Australia was craving.
Day one would have been even more lopsided had it not been for a late rally from Australia’s lower-order.
From 8-168, Jess Jonassen (19) and Kim Garth (28 not out) rescued the innings and lifted Australia passed 200.
“We just didn’t stick at our plans for long enough,” McGrath said.
“There’s still a lot of cricket to be played in this game…hopefully we swing the momentum back.”
Originally published as India v Australia women’s cricket Test: Latest news, scores after day one in Mumbai
