Perth, March 7 – Lucy Hamilton and Annabel Sutherland shone brightly once again, as Australia strengthened their position in the one-off Pink-ball Test against India. The visitors closed the second day at 105/6 after scoring 50 runs in 29 overs, trailing Australia by 20 runs at the WACA Ground on Saturday.
Annabel once again proved to be the standout performer – after scoring her fourth Test century, she took two wickets in the final session, completing a dominant performance. Her 129 off 171 balls was a display of patience and control, combined with excellent stroke play and unwavering focus.
Supported by Ellyse Perry’s composed 76, Annabel helped Australia reach 323 in 90.4 overs, gaining a 125-run lead. Sayali Satghare of India took 4-50 in her debut. Like in the first innings, Lucy also made a significant impact, taking 3-32 under the lights, while Darcie Brown chipped in with one wicket to maintain the pressure.
India’s batting faltered due to the pressure and disciplined bowling. Loose shots and poor shot selection hindered their response, with the top order unable to withstand Australia’s accurate seam bowling. Only Pratika Rawal remained unbeaten on 43 at the close, while Sneh Rana was not out on 14.
However, with limited support from the rest of the team, India remain in a precarious position, still trailing by 20 runs with only four wickets in hand. As of now, Australia are on track for a convincing victory, which would be a fitting farewell for their captain Alyssa Healy.
The final session began with Alana King being caught by cover by Sayali, before Lucy dismissed off her to give a catch to mid-wicket. This allowed India to wrap up Australia’s first innings in just 16 balls.
India’s second innings began poorly as Darcie Brown dismissed Smriti Mandhana’s middle stump. Lucy then dismissed Shafali Verma, who edged away from her body and gave a regulation catch behind the stumps. Lucy continued her strong performance, dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues with a mistimed scoop caught by leg gully.
Annabel joined the wicket-taking act, taking Harmanpreet Kaur with a sharp catch at second slip after the India captain had briefly threatened to counter-attack with two boundaries. India’s middle order further crumbled as Deepti Sharma was dismissed by Lucy through the gate, followed by Richa Ghosh being caught behind after a successful review.
This double strike reduced India to 82/6, but Pratika stood firm, compiling a gritty 43 not out off 84 balls with six boundaries. She received some support from Sneh, as the pair helped India stay safe until stumps.
With Australia firmly in control, India face a tough challenge to avoid defeat. Their hopes rest on Pratika and Sneh to extend their fight, but Australia will be aiming for a swift finish to secure a commanding victory.
In the morning, resuming from 96/3, Australia controlled the session as Ellyse and Annabel consolidated their overnight stand. Both reached their respective half-centuries with authority, keeping the scoreboard moving against India’s attack under scorching heat.
Ellyse, who last scored fifty in July 2023, looked set for a century before being dismissed lbw to Deepti Sharma on review. Her dismissal came after she crossed 1,000 career Test runs, surpassing Karen Rolton to become Australia’s leading run-scorer in the format and the first woman to achieve the double of 1,000 runs and 30 wickets in Tests.
Annabel dropped on 90 by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, continued confidently, even as Beth Mooney was reprieved twice early in her innings – once at silly point and again in the slips. The 128-run partnership between Annabel and Ellyse ensured Australia surpassed India’s first-innings score of 198 and took the lead.
The second session saw India staging a comeback – Beth’s scratchy 19 ended with a chip to short extra cover, Ashleigh Gardner was bowled for one, and Smriti Mandhana made a sharp catch at short leg to remove Tahlia McGrath for 13. These strikes briefly lifted India’s hopes, but Annabel’s dominance ensured Australia’s advantage grew steadily.
She combined crisp drives with calculated aggression and went past 700 career Test runs in the process, before reaching the three-figure mark off 133 deliveries, and became the first Australian woman to score four hundreds in the format and the first to record three consecutive tons.
Annabel’s dismissal – caught at long-on by Harmanpreet off Deepti – came after she had anchored Australia’s middle order through a tricky passage. Lucy and Alana frustrated India further by stitching together a 34-run stand for the ninth wicket. Their resistance came after India quickly opted for the new ball under lights, with Kashvee Gautam and Kranti Gaud having a go with the fresh pink ball.
But they failed to deliver the breakthroughs India needed, as Australia crossed the 300 mark and tightened their grip on the match. India’s bowlers, led by Deepti and Kranti, kept probing but were undermined by poor decision-making in reviews and their looking short of ideas in bowling under lights. The same theme would reflect in their horrid batting show, and one would hope that they show some fight to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat.
Brief scores:
India 198 and 105/6 in 29 overs (Pratika Rawal 43 not out, Sneh Rana 14 not out; Lucy Hamilton 3-32, Annabel Sutherland 2-15) trail Australia 323 all out in 90.4 overs (Annabel Sutherland 129, Ellyse Perry 76; Sayali Satghare 4-50, Deepti Sharma 2-67) by 20 runs
