Australia Women beat India Women by 9 wickets in Beth Mooney’s first T20I
Opener Beth Mooney smashed India’s 173-run target with a 57-ball 89 to lead Australia Women to a nine-wicket win in their first T20 International.
Mooney hit 16 fours while in the middle, and Tahlia McGrath’s unbeaten 29-ball 40 included four fours and two sixes. With this, Australia took a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series. Earlier, experienced Deepti Sharma scored an unbeaten 36 off 15 balls as India posted 172 for 5. After Richa Ghosh (36 off 20 balls) and Devika Vaidya (25 off 24 balls) added 56 runs for the fifth wicket, Sharma hit four consecutive fours in the final over bowled by Megan Shutt to boost India’s run rate.
Chasing a tough target, Australian opening pair captain Alyssa Healy and Mooney gave Australia the start they needed, adding 73 runs in 9 overs. Healy and Mooney played some brilliant shots during their brilliant partnership that put the Indian bowlers under pressure.
Radha Yadav’s catch at backward point by Renuka Singh gave life to Mooney when he was on 4 and made things worse. Medium pacer Renuka then hit three consecutive fours by Mooney, even as his captain hit his first six. Australian innings.
Summary Marks:
India Women: 172 for 5 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 36 not out, Richa Ghosh 36; Elise Perry 2/10); Australia Women: 173 for 1 in 18.1 overs (Beth Mooney 89 not, Tahila McGrath 40 not; Devika Vaidya 1/33).
