In a low-scoring Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match, India collapsed like a pack of cards and lost by 44 runs to Australia.
On Monday, in a low-scoring Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match in Cape Town, India’s bats let them down once more.
They lost by 44 runs to Australia. When asked to field, the Indian bowlers destroyed the Australian top order, but the unbeaten 50-run partnership between Georgia Wareham (32) and Jess Jonassen (22) brought Australia to 129 for 8.
The Indian batsmen were bowled out for 85 in 15 overs as a response. India’s batting has failed for the second time in a row.
The “Women in Blue” had experienced a similar defeat against South Africa in the Tri-Series final last week.
Shafali Verma (two), Smriti Mandhana (one), and Richa Ghosh (five) were the three important scalps that Pacer Darcie Brown (4/17) took from the Indian top order.
Jemimah Rodrigues, opened the innings with Shafali. Continued her miserable run when she was run out while captain Harmanpreet Kaur did not bat.
Harleen Doel (12) showed some intent by hitting two fours before getting run out. Deepti Sharma, an all-rounder, scored the most runs with 19 and remained unbeaten. If someone had stayed with her until the end, she could have won India.
Prior to that, veteran pacer Shikha Pandey (2/9) struck in her first two overs to dispatch Australia captain Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath, both of whom scored zero runs, respectively.
Ellyse Perry (1) was eliminated by a run out by Radha Yadav while Australia was 10 for 3. Ash Gardner (22), Beth Mooney (28), Pooja Vastrakar (2/16), Radha Yadav (22/22). However, were able to break through the middle order.
India’s most expensive bowler was Renuka Singh, who had a bad day and gave up 39 runs in three overs.
However, Wareham and Jonassen’s partnership of five fours and three sixes could not be broken by the Indians.