Hyderabad: The 2020 ICC Women's Twenty 20 World Cup got off to a thrilling start as India defeated hosts Australia in tournament opener by 17 runs in Sydney on Friday. India women, who have recently lost to Australia in the final of triangular series that also featured England, took sweet revenge by beating the hosts.
India never gave the Aussies an inch of space to effect a turnaround in the game. Batting first India posted a modest total of 132 runs on the board, thanks to Deepti Sharma's fighting knock of 49 and able contributions from Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues who scored 29 and 26 respectively.
Poonam Yadav was adjudged Man of the Match for taking 4 wickets for 19 runs. The entire team deserves praise for this victory, but bowlers deserve special credit for defending such a low total against the defending champions Australia.
There is no need to tell you how powerful four-time champions Australia women are in T20 cricket. But their big guns didn't have any clue to India's challenge on Friday at their home itself.
Watch the India vs Australia match analysis. Winning the toss, Australia captain Meg Lanning decided to bowl first. Her decision proved well as Jess Jonassen took two wickets while and Ellyse Perry and Delissa Kimmince took one wicket each. Their tight bowling didn't let Indian batters to open arms for big shots. India ultimately managed to post 132 losing 4 wickets.
Deepti Sharma played a vital knock of 49 against Australia in tournament opener. Defending the target of 133 runs was extremely challenging, but Poonam Yadav's spin bowling craft and the deadly pace bowling of Shikha Pandey made it possible.
Spinner Poonam Yadav and pacer Shikha Pandey were the standout bowlers in the match. Poonam was wrecker-in-chief as she dismantled Australia top order and middle order by picking up four wickets giving away mere 19 runs in four overs. At the same time, Shikha Pandey scalped three wickets to ensure that the pressure doesn't get released from the other end.
Wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia effected four dismissals in today's game. Credit should also go to wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia for effecting four dismissals. She took two catches and effected as many stumpings. Taniya now ranked third in the list of most stumpings in women's T20Is after Sarah Taylor and Alyssa Healy.
India will play Bangladesh women in their next game on February 24 in Perth while Australia will take on Sri Lanka at the same venue on the very day.
