Perth, March 6 – Fast-bowling all-rounder Annabel Sutherland took 4-46, while debutant pacer Lucy Hamilton impressed with 3-31 as Australia bowled out India for 198 on the first day of the one-off pink-ball Test at the WACA Ground on Friday.
After Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bowl first in her final international game, Australia's seamers made full use of the lively pitch by taking wickets at regular intervals, preventing India from building sustained momentum.
For India, Jemimah Rodrigues’ composed 52 was the only notable contribution, while debutant Kashvee Gautam added a useful 34 not out off 54 balls. India's innings was marked by their inability to adapt to the rigors of Test match cricket, especially given that this was their first game in the longer format since June 2024.
Annabel led the attack with her disciplined lines and mesmerizing seam and swing, while Lucy capped a memorable debut with her accuracy and ability to generate movement. Darcie Brown (2-41) and Ashleigh Gardner (1-39) also contributed to tighten the screws on India's batting line-up.
India's innings began shakily after Smriti Mandhana survived a probing first over from Darcie Brown. She looked shaky before being dismissed in the sixth over by Lucy, who claimed her maiden Test wicket with a sharp nip-backer that went through the gate and dismissed the India vice-captain.
Shafali Verma looked positive by hitting six boundaries in making 35 off 48 balls, before edging Annabel behind to Beth Mooney, while playing a drive without footwork. Debutant Pratika Rawal looked scratchy in her 18 off 43 balls and was dismissed after drinks when she slashed at a wide delivery from Sutherland, only to be caught at gully.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur attempted to counterattack with four boundaries but was dismissed by late movement from Dracie that breached her defence and bowled her for 19.
Jemimah got a thick edge off Lucy for four to begin her stay at the crease, before presenting the full face of the bat past mid-on to get a boundary and end a session where India failed to show the patience needed for surviving the rigors of Test match cricket.
The second session began with India losing Deepti Sharma early to Annabel Sutherland before Jemimah and Richa Ghosh stitched together a promising 23-run stand off 62 balls.
Their resistance was short-lived, however, as Richa fell to Ashleigh and Jemimah, who looked at ease while hitting 52 – her fourth fifty in Tests and second against Australia, flicked off Lucy to square leg and gave the teenager her second scalp.
Lucy struck again to remove Sneh Rana cheaply and completed a three-wicket haul on debut. India's lower order survived nervy moments, with Kashvee dropped by Beth Mooney on 16, before she and Sayali stayed unbeaten till the dinner break arrived.
After that, with Australia not conceding a boundary in four overs of the final session, Annabel had Sayali top-edging a pull to Beth while Darcie ended India's innings when Kranti Gaud's half-hearted pull was caught by first slip and gave Australia the early edge in the match.
Brief Scores: India 198 in 62.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 52, Shafali Verma 35; Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) against Australia
