The first ODI between Australia Women and India Women at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane, delivered a gripping contest despite the match being one-sided in favor of Australia. The Aussies showcased clinical dominance in all departments, cruising to a five-wicket win, spearheaded by Megan Schutt’s remarkable bowling performance and Georgia Voll’s impressive debut.
Match Summary
- Series: India Women Tour of Australia, 2024 (ICC Championship Match)
- Venue: Allan Border Field, Brisbane
- Date & Time: December 5, 2024, 02:20 PM Local
- Result: Australia Women won by 5 wickets
- Player of the Match: Megan Schutt (6-1-19-5)
India Women Innings: 100 All Out (34.2 Overs)
After winning the toss and opting to bat, India had a day to forget with the bat. Their innings crumbled for just 100 runs, struggling to counter Australia’s disciplined bowling attack.
Key Performances:
Megan Schutt (6.2-1-19-5)
- Schutt delivered her career-best figures, swinging the new ball effectively and causing havoc among the Indian top order. She dismissed both openers early and later wrapped up the tail, achieving her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs.
Kim Garth (8-1-20-1)
- Garth consistently troubled the Indian batters, maintaining tight lines and delivering the breakthrough of Jemimah Rodrigues.
Ashleigh Gardner (7-0-14-1)
- Gardner spun a web in the middle overs, removing Harleen Deol with the help of an outstanding catch by Sutherland.
India’s Key Batters:
Harmanpreet Kaur (17 off 31)
- The skipper looked composed but failed to build a substantial partnership, succumbing to a nip-backer from Annabel Sutherland.
Harleen Deol (19 off 34)
- Showed promise but couldn’t capitalize, perishing to a stunning catch by Sutherland.
Jemimah Rodrigues (23 off 42)
- Anchored the innings briefly but was cleaned up by Kim Garth with a peach of a delivery.
India’s inability to rotate the strike, compounded by poor shot selection, led to one of their lowest ODI totals in recent times.
Australia Women Innings: 102/5 (16.2 Overs)
The chase was straightforward for Australia, but a few hiccups in the middle order added a touch of drama. Nevertheless, debutant Georgia Voll played a stellar knock, guiding the team to victory with a composed 46* off 42 balls.
Key Performances:
Georgia Voll (46 off 42)*
- The debutant displayed maturity beyond her years, hitting crucial boundaries under pressure and ensuring Australia crossed the finish line.
Phoebe Litchfield (35 off 29)
- Litchfield provided a brisk start, smashing eight boundaries before being caught at mid-off by Harmanpreet Kaur.
Renuka Thakur Singh (7-0-45-3)
- Renuka was the lone bright spot for India, claiming three wickets and briefly keeping her side in the hunt.
Priya Mishra (2-0-11-2)
- Mishra impressed with her leg-spin, picking up two wickets, including the dangerous Ashleigh Gardner.
Match Decider:
- Titas Sadhu bowled economically in her debut spell, but with just 100 runs to defend, the Indian bowlers had too little to work with. Georgia Voll’s unbeaten knock ensured Australia reached the target with 33.4 overs to spare.
Captains’ Reactions
Tahlia McGrath (Australia Captain):
“Was important for us to start the series off well. The bowlers were fantastic, and the fielding was great too. Georgia Voll’s composure on debut was exceptional. Chasing low totals is tricky, but we were aggressive and confident.”
Harmanpreet Kaur (India Captain):
“We bowled really well today, but the batting let us down. Partnerships are key, and that’s an area we need to improve. We now have an idea of how the pitch plays and will come back with a positive mindset for the second game.”
Key Moments
Megan Schutt’s Early Strikes:
- Dismissing both Indian openers inside the first seven overs, Schutt set the tone for Australia’s dominance.
Fielding Brilliance by Annabel Sutherland:
- Sutherland’s spectacular catch to dismiss Harleen Deol was a turning point, breaking a budding partnership.
Georgia Voll’s Calm Under Pressure:
- Despite Australia losing three quick wickets, Voll showcased exceptional maturity, steering her team home with an unbeaten 46.
What’s Next?
India will aim to regroup and bounce back in the second ODI, scheduled at the same venue on Sunday. With the pitch expected to behave similarly, the onus will be on the Indian batters to step up and set a competitive total.
FAQs
Q: Who won the Player of the Match award?
A: Megan Schutt won the Player of the Match award for her career-best figures of 5/19 in 6.2 overs.
Q: What went wrong for India in the first ODI?
A: India struggled with the bat, failing to rotate the strike and losing wickets in clusters. Their middle-order collapse was the key factor behind the sub-par total.
Q: When is the next match?
A: The second ODI will take place on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane.
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