Sydney, February 15 – All-rounder Arundhati Reddy achieved her career-best bowling figures of 4-22 as India won by 21 runs against Australia using the DLS method in the opening match of the multi-format series. The match was curtailed due to rain at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Chasing 134, India reached 50/1 in 5.1 overs before heavy showers forced the players to leave the field. With no possibility of resumption, the visitors were declared the winners, taking a 2-0 lead in the multi-format series.
Arundhati's four wickets helped India dismiss Australia for just 133 in 18 overs. Georgia Wareham scored 30 off 19 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield (26) and Ellyse Perry (20) had promising starts but couldn't convert them into big scores.
Australia's innings ended after a 41-run partnership between Ellyse and Phoebe, before the hosts lost five wickets for 12 runs, giving India complete control of the match. Renuka Singh Thakur and Sree Charani each took two wickets, while Deepti Sharma and Kranti Gaud each took one.
Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave India a strong start, adding 50 runs in just over five overs. Although Shafali was dismissed for 21 off 11 balls by Australia captain Sophie Molineux, India maintained their lead according to the DLS method when rain intervened, eventually securing the victory.
This match marked Australia's first T20I under the new captain, Sophie, who was appointed in January. The hosts made several changes, omitting vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, and Grace Harris, while bringing back Nicola Carey, who scored 12 off 12 balls.
Annabel Sutherland, who had recently won the Belinda Clark Award again, was surprisingly sent to number eight and only managed three runs before being stumped by Renuka. The teams will travel to Canberra for the second T20I, to be played at the Manuka Oval on Thursday.
Brief Scores: Australia 133 all out in 18 overs (Georgia Wareham 30, Phoebe Litchfield 26; Arundhati Reddy 4-22, Renuka Singh Thakur 2-14) lost to India 50/1 in 5.1 overs (Shafali Verma 21, Smriti Mandhana 16 not out) by 21 runs (via DLS method)
