India beat Australia in Mumbai for historic maiden win
Before this Test, India had played against Australia in 10 Tests. The Women in Blue had lost four and drawn six Tests against their opponents. That changed on 24 December, when they garnered their first-ever Test success against Alyssa Healy’s side.
On day one, Healy called it right and elected to bat first. However, the tourists had to contend with movement from pacers and turn for spinners on the very first day. Pooja Vastrakar (4/53), Sneh Rana (3/56), and Deepti Sharma (2/45) ran through the lineup to bowl them out for 219.
India were off to a solid start on the back of positive cricket from Smriti Mandhana (74) and Shafali Varma (40). Substantial contributions from the middle-order batters, Richa Ghosh (52) and Jemimah Rodrigues (73) helped India garner a lead. However, it was the 122-run stand between Deepti (78) and Vastrakar (47) that ensured that the hosts were in cruise control with a 187 run advantage.
Beth Mooney (33), Ellyse Perry (45), and Tahlia McGrath (73) dug in deep as the tourists fought back on day three. However, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur brought herself on and struck twice to put the hosts ahead. Spinners Sneh Rana (4/63) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2/42) finished the job on the final day, bowling Australia out for 261. India were set a target of 75.
Despite a shaky start, India overcame the ask with eight wickets in hand. Mandhana top-scored with an unbeaten 38.
This was a second successive Test win for India. They had beaten England by a record margin of 347 runs at the DY Patil Stadium earlier in December.