Indian women’s cricket team defeated Australia for the first time ever in a Test match, as the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side defeated the Aussies by 8 wickets on the fourth and final day of the one-off Test of the multi-format series at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 75 to win in the fourth innings, Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh reamined unbeaten to take India to their maiden triumph over the Aussies in 11 Tests.
𝙃𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 𝙄𝙉 𝙈𝙐𝙈𝘽𝘼𝙄! 🙌#TeamIndia women register their first win against Australia in Test Cricket 👏👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/7o69J2XRwi#INDvAUS | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/R1GKeuRa69
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 24, 2023
Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana hit the winning runs as #TeamIndia register a 8⃣-wicket win over Australia in Mumbai 👏👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/7o69J2XRwi#INDvAUS | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/FiJorgZUMs
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 24, 2023
Playing more than one Test at home for the first time since 1995, there was hardly a moment when the team put a foot wrong.
After bowling out Australia for 261 in their second innings, claiming the last five wickets for just 28 runs in 15.4 overs with Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad bagged two wickets each on the final morning on a Wankhede pitch that is crumbling past and offering variable bounce and sharp turn on occasions. India had bundled out Australia for 219 on the first day and then posted 406 in their first innings thanks to half-centuries by Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.
Needing 75 to win the match, India lost Shafali Verma in the first over after the aggressive batter had struck Kim Garth for a boundary a few balls earlier.
Richa Ghosh had her heart in her mouth when a delivery from Ashleigh Gardner turned sharply and shot off from the rough spot and sailed over the middle and leg and past the keeper for four byes.