Bolton struck a hundred as Australia beat India by eight wickets in the first ODI in Vadodara. Bolton and Healy got the run chase off to a breezy start before Pandey got rid of the latter. That didn't deter Bolton who then forged crucial partnerships with skipper Lanning and Perry to take Australia home
Australia leads the three-match ODI series 1-0.
30 Overs: Australia 183/2
This is turning out to be an emphatic performance from both Bolton and Australia. Yet another fifty run partnership for the visitor - this has been a hallmark of this run chase. Suffice to say, Australia has batted India out of the contest.
25 Overs: Australia 149/2
Bolton has been the cornerstone of this run chase so far but not without some help from the Indian fielders. She got a reprieve when Rajeshwari Gayakwad dropped an absolute sitter at square leg. The fielding from both sides has been quite ordinary, but India has been poorer of the two.
A wicket against the run of play and Lanning has to go. A huge mix up between the two batters and Veda Krishnamurthy hist the bulls eye to catch the Australian skipper just short of her crease. Australia 128/2.
20 Overs: Australia 123/1
Australia brought up its 100 just in the 16th over. Lanning and Bolt going strong even as Indian fielders feel the heat; with the likes of Kaur and Mandhana conceding boundaries where the ball should've been stopped. The result; Australia is cruising towards the total with nine wickets in the bank. In the meantime, Bolton has struck a deserving half-century.
15 Overs: Australia 90/1
Australia in the driver's seat as Bolton and Meg Lanning negotiate the Indian bowling without the slightest hint of inconvenience. Bolton's on 32 and Lanning on 17. Australia needs another 111 to win.
10 Overs: Australia 67/1
Australia motoring along nicely at the moment; Healy and Bolton stitching together a 60 run partnership before Pandey got rid of Healy. Healy (38) was on a roll, having hammered six boundaries and a six. This is an excellent start - one that'll require Indian skipper Kaur to put her thinking cap on.
GONE! Shikha Pandey draws first blood. Healy departs for a well made 38. Australia 60/1.
5 Overs: Australia 29/0
A steady start from the visitor. A maiden by Shikha Pandey started the proceedings before Healy got Australia off the mark with a square drive off Vastrakar's bowling. That said, Australia needs a tad more than four runs an over to beat India. It will be in no hurry whatsoever. India, on the other hand, needs early wickets to stand a chance.
Nicole Bolton and Alyssa Healy to begin the chase. Shikha Pandey with the new ball.
Lacklustre batting, combined with a fine bowling performance from Australia, saw India limp to 200 in 50 overs. But a 76 run partnership between Pooja Vastrakar (51) and Sushma Verma (41) has given the host an outside chance of putting up a fight. For the visitor, Wellington and Jonassen claimed three and four wickets respectively. Australia needs 201 to win. We'll be back with the run chase in some time.
GONE! Jonassen gets the breakthrough and Verma's (41) rearguard has come to an end. India 189/8
45 Overs: India 178/7
Vastrakar and Verma are adding some valuable runs to the Indian total; the former upping the ante in the death overs. The partnership is now worth 65 off 80 balls; the last five overs going for 38 runs. Can the duo push India over the 200 run - mark? For Australia, Nicola Carey has completed her quota of 10 overs. She went for 28 without a wicket against her name. The visitor has been sloppy on the field today, with catches being dropped and balls passing between fielder's legs.
40 Overs: India 141/7
Vastrakar's counter-attack injecting India's innings with a much-needed adrenaline; two consecutive fours - one over mid-off and another over mid-on - off Jonassen giving the sparse crowd at the Reliance stadium something to cheer. The 18-year-old is striking some lusty blows; the question,however, is whether a total of 170-180 be enough on this wicket against this opposition.
35 Overs: India 118/7
Australia has been on top of this game with India losing a flurry of wickets; the host has lost its last three for 26 runs. A lack of strong partnership at the top and then in the middle order has clearly hurt India in this innings. Last five overs have cost Australia only 9 runs, and it has picked up two wickets on the way. The big challenge now is to bat out the 50 overs. Can Verma and Pooja Vastrakar get India to 150?
One wicket leads to another; Shikha Pandey departs for two. She was late on her flick and ended up offering a simple catch to Perry. India 113/7
And Veda departs as well. Third wicket for Wellington as the host continues to struggle. India 113/6.
30 Overs: India 108/5
Veda's lofted strike over mid-wicket was the highlight of the last five overs. However, the runs have dried up for the host, which is missing the services of Mithali Raj today. The onus will be on Veda to take India to a fighting target. India's first fifty came in 83 balls, the next in 88. India is going at under four runs an over at the moment. Australia, meanwhile, would be hoping to restrict India under 200.
25 Overs: India 91/5
India unravelling in Vadodara as Australia bowlers tighten the noose on the opposition batters. Veda Krishnamurthy and Sushma Verma have a herculean task at hand here. Last five overs, India has managed only 15 runs for the loss of two wickets.
India commiting harakiri in Vadodara. This time it is Kaur who has to walk back to the dressing room; Schutt claiming the big wicket. India 87/5.
Another one bites the dust! Nicola Carey pulls off a blinder to get rid of Deepti Sharma. India 83/4.
20 Overs: India 76/3
Kaur has struggled to get going so far. But credit to Australia, it has bowled very well this morning, especially leg-spinner Wellington who has two wickets under her belt. Deepti Sharma - the new batter in the middle - though, took her on; bludgeoning a flighted delivery over long-on for six. 24 runs coming off the last five overs.
Wellington gets the big wicket of Raut; Wellington trapping her in front. India 60/3.
15 Overs: India 52/2
After an average start, Australia has put the brakes on India's scoring with skipper Meg Lanning using as many as five bowlers inside the first 15 overs. Raut has been joined by captain Kaur; the latter's innings of 171 not out off 115 balls - the third-highest score in the World Cup and fifth-highest overall- in the ICC Women's World Cup semifinal last year will be fresh in the minds of the opponent. Having said that, save Kaur's meaty blow through covers, Australia bowlers have kept the duo relatively sedate; only eight runs coming from that passage of play.
Wicket No. 2 for Australia and it's the debutant who has to go; Rodrigues being strangled down the leg-side there. Amanda Wellington doing the damage.
10 Overs: India 44/1
Australia introducing a double bowling change; Ashleigh Gardner, right-arm off spinner, and Nicola Carey, right-arm medium, operating in tandem. Meanwhile, Raut swivelled a pull over backward square leg for her first six of the innings. She's Mandhana, at the other end, struggled to get going and eventually perished trying to play a big shot; Gardener having her caught at mid-on. Teenage sensation Rodrigues in next. Last five overs, Australia has given away 20 runs for one wicket.
GONE! Australia draws first blood. Mandhana departs for 12. India 38/1.
5 Overs: 24/0
Raut and Mandhana both got off the mark with boundaries; Raut threading the gap between cover and extra-cover with a glorious drive and Mandhana showing the full face of the bat to drill one past mid-off. Raut is timing them really well at the moment. Ellyse Perry and Schutt have been erratic with the ball so far.
Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut to open the innings for India; left hand-right hand combination for the host. Megan Schutt with the new ball.
TOSS UPDATE: India Women won the toss and elected to bat.
India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma(w), Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Poonam Yadav
Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy(w), Nicole Bolton, Meg Lanning(c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Amanda Wellington, Megan Schutt
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India in absence of Mithali Raj who is unwell. Jemimah Rodrigues will make her ODI debut against the Aussies. The 17-year-old batter, who made her international debut in South Africa last month, shared her experience with Sportstar.
Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of the first ODI between India and Australia Women.
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