BRISBANE: Yastika Bhatia’s fluent half-century and a disciplined bowling effort, spearheaded by skipper Radha Yadav, powered India A to a tense three-wicket win over Australia A in the first women’s one-day match on Wednesday.
The visitors now lead the three-match series 1-0.
Radha’s left-arm spin fetched her 3 for 45 as Australia A were bowled out for 214. Chasing the target, India A crossed the line in 42 overs, with Bhatia’s 59 off 70 balls (7 fours) setting the tone.
Bhatia and Shafali Verma (36 off 31) got India off to a flying start, adding 77 in just 10.4 overs. After Shafali’s dismissal to Sianna Ginger, Bhatia and Dhara Gujjar (31 off 53) stitched a 63-run stand for the second wicket, taking the score to 140 for 1.
The game tightened when Gujjar fell to Tess Flintoff and Bhatia to Kim Garth, triggering a mini-collapse to 157 for 3. Off-spinner Ella Hayward (2/46) struck twice in quick succession, removing Tejal Hasabnis and Tanusree Sarkar to leave India wobbling at 166 for 5.
A composed Raghvi Bist (25 not out off 34) steadied the chase, guiding the side home despite late strikes from pacer Lucy Hamilton (2/36), who removed Radha and Minnu Mani.
Earlier, Australia A struggled for momentum despite Anika Learoyd’s unbeaten 92 (90 balls) and Rachael Trenaman’s 51 (62 balls). The pair rescued the hosts from 50 for 3 with a 63-run partnership, before Trenaman’s run-out halted the recovery. Learoyd then added 45 with Nicole Faltum (18), pushing the score to 158 for 4.
Radha and off-spinner Minnu Mani (2/38) then ripped through the middle and lower order, sharing four wickets for just seven runs to leave Australia reeling at 165 for 8. Learoyd’s late resistance took them past 200, but the total proved insufficient.
Brief Scores:
Australia A: 214 all out in 47.5 overs (Anika Learoyd 92*, Rachael Trenaman 51; Radha Yadav 3/45, Minnu Mani 2/38)
India A: 215/7 in 42 overs (Yastika Bhatia 59, Shafali Verma 36, Dhara Gujjar 31, Raghvi Bist 25*; Ella Hayward 2/46, Lucy Hamilton 2/36)
Result: India A won by 3 wickets.
