Perth, March 6 Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland shared an unbroken partnership of 38 to guide Australia to 96/3 at stumps after 27 overs, leaving India trailing by 102 runs on the first day of the one-off pink-ball Test at the WACA Ground on Friday.
After dismissing India for 198, Australia were forced to play a tricky session under lights. Phoebe Litchfield was cheaply dismissed by debutant pacer Kranti Gaud, while captain Alyssa Healy could only manage 13 in what could be her penultimate international innings.
Debut pacer Sayali Satghare removed Alyssa and Georgia Voll, allowing India to make early inroads. Ellyse and Annabel then steadied the innings, looking increasingly confident against the Indian bowlers.
Ellyse remained unbeaten on 43 off 62 balls, with seven boundaries, while Annabel scored 20 off 29 balls, with three boundaries. India will need to perform at their best on Saturday to prevent Australia from gaining a significant first-innings lead.
The final session began with Australia not conceding any boundaries in four overs before Annabel edged a pull to Beth Mooney, while Darcie Brown ended India's innings two runs short of 200 when Kranti's half-hearted pull was caught by first slip.
In response to India's 198, Australia lost Georgia early. Sayali produced a sharp inswing that breached her defence and dismissed her for two. Ellyse joined Phoebe Litchfield and looked fluent in driving Sayali through cover for four, but India struck again when Phoebe's stay ended at nine, as Jemimah Rodrigues took a brilliant catch at backward point off Kranti.
Captain Alyssa Healy, playing in her final international game, received a standing ovation from the Perth crowd but could not capitalise as she edged away from Sayali to Jemimah at backward point for 13. At 58-3, India's seamers were in control, with Sayali and Kranti making the ball talk.
Ellyse, however, grew in confidence, cutting and driving with authority, while Annabel shone from the outset, with her crisp drive through extra cover and a pull behind square being the standout shots.
India bowled at full pace until the final over, when Sneh Rana was introduced, but Annabel and Ellyse negotiated her comfortably. Despite the early breakthroughs, India will rue not making deeper inroads, leaving Australia well-positioned to push for a first-innings lead on Saturday.
Brief scores:
India 198 all out in 62.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 52, Shafali Verma 35; Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) lead Australia 96/3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43 not out, Annabel Sutherland 20 not out; Sayali Satghare 2-24, Kranti Gaud 1-28) by 102 runs
