India women register first-ever Test win against Australia women
Xtra Time Web Desk: In a historic moment for Indian women's cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur led India women cricket team secured their first-ever Test victory against Australia, defeating the Aussies by 8 wickets at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Chasing a target of 75 in the fourth innings, Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh displayed resilience, remaining unbeaten to clinch India's maiden triumph over Australia in 11 Tests.
This victory marked India's first time playing more than one Test at home since 1995, and the team demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the match. After bowling out Australia for 261 in the second innings, Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad played crucial roles in taking the last five wickets for just 28 runs on the final morning. The Wankhede pitch, showing signs of wear and tear, provided variable bounce and sharp turn, favoring the Indian bowlers.
India's dominance was evident from bundling out Australia for 219 on the first day and posting a formidable 406 in their first innings, thanks to half-centuries by Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma.
Despite losing Shafali Verma early in the run chase, Richa Ghosh survived key moments, including a sharply turning delivery and a dropped catch by Beth Mooney. Smriti Mandhana's aggressive batting, with back-to-back fours, played a crucial role in steering India towards victory. Some stroke of luck, including misfielding by Tahlia McGrath, contributed to India's success in reaching the target. Overall, it was a historic and well-deserved win for the Indian women's cricket team.
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