Ashleigh Gardner and Grace Harris starred revived Australia from 49/5, helping them gun down a 155-run target against India in the cricket opener at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 on July 29.
Australia – the top-ranked team across formats and the current women’s ODI and T20 World Cup holders – lived up to their reputation in the first cricket encounter at the Commonwealth Games 2022 at Edgbaston, staging a brilliant turnaround to stun India.
Chasing 155, the Australia top-order was undone by Renuka Singh’s brilliance that had them reduced to 34/4 in 4.1 overs.
The right-arm quick dismissed Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath in an inspiring four-over new-ball spell, returning 4/18 with 16 dots. Deepti Sharma then removed Rachael Haynes to make it 49/5 in the eighth over.
Harris then took over with a brisk 37 off 20 with five fours and two sixes, allowing the experienced Gardner to play herself in. Meghana Singh dismissed Harris, and Deepti sent back Jess Jonassen to revive India’s hopes.
But Gardner, having found support in Alana King (18* off 16), struck crucial boundaries towards the end to get her side over the line with three wickets and an over to spare. Gardener struck nine fours to finish unbeaten 52 off 35.
Earlier, India posted 154/8 after opting to bat, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur leading the way with 34-ball 52, striking eight fours and a six. Shafali Verma contributed 48 off 33 after senior opener Smriti Mandhana got India off to a flying start with 24 off 17. Jess Jonassen, the sixth-ranked T20I bowler, returned 4/22 from four overs.
Brief scores
India women 154/8 (Kaur 52, Verma 48; Jonassen 4/22) lose to Australia women 157/7 from 19 overs (Gardner 52*, Harris 37; Singh 4/18)
