India vs Australia HIGHLIGHTS, Day 3 Women’s Test: AUS 233/5, leads by 46 runs vs IND; Harmanpreet picks big wickets

Australia has managed to keep its noses ahead albeit by a slender margin at the end of Day 3. Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath threatened to complete a superb day for Australia before India struck back after Lunch. Harmanpreet Kaur led the late charge with two massive wickets in the form of McGrath and counterpart Healy. With a 46-run lead and five wickets in hand, Australia will be wary of a defeat looming on Sunday. Job on the hands for Aussie lower-order.

Last over of the evening? Vastrakar replaces Harmanpreet.

Width outside the off-stump. Sutherland taps it through point for a single. Close. Vastrakar’s length ball keeps dangerously close and Gardner luckily gets some wood on it. And that shall be STUMPS.

Rana continues. Three deliveries into the over, India takes the new ball. Maiden.

Harmanpreet to Sutherland, loud appeal. Kaur finds some sharp turn from length as Sutherland misses out on a heave. The ball hits her high on the pad and India reviews. Umpire’s Call on impact and Sutherland survives.

Short from Harmanpreet and Sutherland shuffles to whack the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR.

Sutherland continues to employ a neat defence as Kaur shortens her length. Two from the over.

Healy taps one back to Kaur and she instantly throws the ball back towards the keeper. Healy, in line, directs the ball that is shooting at her face past the keeper for FOUR. Kaur has a word with the umpire but the decision remains. Harmanpreet to Healy, OUT! That looks plumb in front as Healy misses the sweep. Healy reviews. THREE REDS and captain gets captain.

Alyssa Healy lbw b Kaur 32 (101b 1x4 )

Harmanpreet keeps the batters on their toes, varying her lengths constantly through the over. One from it.

Harmanpreet to Sutherland, OUT? Sharp turn onto the pad again and the umpire raises the finger. Sutherland has a bit of a chat with Healy and reviews. Wickets missing and Sutherland survives!

Harmanpreet strikes first ball? Flight and turn and Harmanpreet raps one on McGrath’s pads. The umpire raises her finger but McGrath successfully reviews with the ball missing the wickets.

Harmanpreet to McGrath, OUT! There’s the breakthrough! Quite literally as Kaur gets the ball to sneak through between bat and pad onto the stumps! Huge wicket for India as McGrath’s stoic knock comes to an end.

Tahlia McGrath b Kaur 73 (177b 10x4)

Gayakwad back. McGrath sweeps the fourth delivery, but there is a square leg in place to protect against that shot now. Just one run. An edge for Healy, it stays low and runs past slip for two runs.

Sneh to Healy. She slices a full delivery to deep cover, one run. McGrath pushes to the vacant point region and pockets another run. Australia gets to 200 with that.

Deepti continues. Healy plays with soft hands to covers and takes a run.

McGrath drives a full delivery to deep cover for one. FOUR! Healy sweeps from a middle-and-leg line and gets it to the fine leg fence. A miscued drive down to mid on gets her a single off the final delivery.

A maiden over from Deepti Sharma.

Sneh Rana back for another spell. Just one single in the over for Healy.

Renuka to McGrath. FOUR! The first boundary of this session. McGrath times it off the middle to beat extra cover and cover fielders. Four again! This time its too wide from Renuka and McGrath slaps it past point. Third four! Driven down the ground and Australia takes the lead. Is this the change in gears?

Gayakwad to continue. Three singles in it as Australia inches closer to restoring parity.

Renuka nips one back in sharply to McGrath which gets the Indians up in appeal. But there was too much movement and the ball was going down leg.

Gayakwad again. She beats the outside edge of Healy on the first delivery. Healy slog sweeps the third to deep square for one run. That’s the only run of the over.

A change in bowling as Renuka Singh comes in. A leg bye on the final delivery of the over, off Healy’s pad. 

Deepti to McGrath. She’s been given leg-before but opts to review it. Looks like there is bat-pad. The third umpire thinks so too and reverses the call. Another maiden.

Alyssa Healy content in blocking Gayakwad from over the wicket angle. Another maiden from the left armer.

Fifty for Tahlia McGrath, gets it with a couple down to fine leg. Takes a single on the final delivery to retain strike.

An edge for Alyssa Healy in Deepti’s over but wide of slip. Four runs in the over.

Gayakwad to McGrath. A sweep shot takes the leading edge but goes to deep square leg on one bounce. Healy also sweeps to pick a single.

Deepti Sharma to Allysa Healy. A sweep on the fifth delivery for one run. McGrath flicks the final delivery for another single.

This should be the most important session of the match. Either Australia continues its charge and builds on a lead, eventually strengthening its chances of a favourable result, or India comes roaring and takes up wickets for minimal runs.

Gayakwad comes over the wicket and offers a hint of room and McGrath rocks back and cuts the ball behind point for FOUR. And that’s TEA.

A fairly positive session for Australia as they rack up 93 runs for the loss of Ellyse Perry. A crucial blow but skipper Alyssa Healy has found her feet quickly to aid Tahlia McGrath who has looked rock solid.

Deepti continues to bowl full and Healy is content with some solid blocks. Two from the over.

Rana regains the spark in her deliveries. She rushes Healy throughout the over to block out balls angling in towards the off-stump. Another maiden. 

Rana to Perry, OUT! A superb catch by Yastika down leg. Rana slides one towards the pads and Perry attempts to shuffle and glide it down to fine-leg. Excellent reactions from Yastika who quickly moves to her left to pouch a massive wicket. Alyssa Healy is in at 5.

Ellyse Perry c †Bhatia b Rana 45 (91b 5x4)

Gayakwad sends one down length and McGrath nimbly charges down and lifts the ball over extra cover for FOUR.

Rajeshwari to Perry, is that OUT? The ball slides in towards the pads as Perry prods forward to defend. Stifled appeal and India takes the review. Replays suggest the impact is outside the off-stump and Perry survives.

Jemimah Rodrigues into the attack. Is that a dead ball. A short delivery nearly pitches twice as it keeps low after pitching before McGrath. Short again and McGrath hammers it through cover for FOUR.

Rana continues to hit the blockhole and the batters dig it out neatly. Minimal turn on offer as Perry and McGrath tread on ones and twos.

Deepti tosses one up and Perry steps out and pumps the ball down the ground for FOUR - 100 up for Australia.

EDGED and past first-slip. A genuine outside edge off McGrath zips past Deepti Sharma’s left hand as Gayakwad produces a fine delivery. Deepti quickly stands a tad straighter at slip.

Perry and McGrath rotate strike easily as Harmanpreet shuffles through her spinners. Not a lot of turn on offer at the moment and the batters continue to build on confidence.

McGrath and Perry soak in the pressure and reel in runs at a decent clip. Vastrakar offers length and McGrath crunches the ball through cover for FOUR.

Deepti replaces Rana. A full toss to start and Perry slaps it past mid-on for FOUR. Deepti tosses one on the full. Perry lunges forward to dig it out from the blockhole. 

Vastrakar keeps it full and straight. Perry leans forward to defend but gets an inside-edge onto the on-side. Length outside off, Perry pushes the ball through cover for a quick single.

Perry starts with a drive through cover for two runs. Rana strays to the pads and Perry flicks the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR.

Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath return to the crease. Sneh Rana back with the ball.

Australia got off to a flying start with Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield. The pair added 49 runs for the opening wicket. But their wickets in the space of two overs helped India claw back. Still a lot of batting left for the side but with the ball turning and keeping low, it will be an uphill battle for Australia.

Deepti to McGrath. A maiden over to end the session.

Rana to McGrath, punches to cover for one run. McGrath is off the mark. Put down! Perry gets an inside edge on her defence. The ball pops up for Richa who gets a hand to it but cannot hold on. Two runs through the slips for Perry on the third delivery.

Vastrakar back on strike. Perry drives through mid on for FOUR!

Rana to Litchfield, FOUR! A step down the wicket and a drive along the ground to breach the rope. A single to long off. Perry punches to point for a single. BOWLED! Litchfield’s attempt to reverse sweep sees her perish. Completely messes up her shot and the ball crashes onto the stumps. 

Phoebe Litchfield b Rana 18 (44)

Tahlia McGrath in at No. 4.

Deepti to Litchfield. Taps the final delivery wide of covers and sneaks in a single. That’s the 50 for Australia.

Rana traps Mooney on the pad, loud appeals but the ball was going down leg. FOUR! Another delivery down leg allows Mooney to free arms and sweep. A couple on the fourth delivery. WICKET! Mooney is gone! Fantastic work by Richa Ghosh at silly point. Mooney defends and for some reason walks out of her crease. Richa first collects the ball cleanly before hitting the wickets. Mooney is run out.

Beth Mooney run out (Ghosh) 33 (37)

Deepti Shama in to bowl now. Litchfield steps out and plays inside out, gets two runs with the ball going over mid off. FOUR! Another delivery down leg allows Mooney to free arms and sweep. A couple on the fourth delivery. WICKET! Mooney is gone!

Rana to Litchfield. She charges down looking to attack but only gets it to mid off. Does the same on the final delivery, this time beats the fielder and runs three.

Renuka to Mooney, FOUR! A gentle pat to place the ball between point and gully.

Sneh Rana for her first over. Poor start! A full toss for Mooney which she sweeps away for FOUR! An edge off Litchfield’s bat but it is wide of the slip and the batters run two.

Renuka again. 4 byes! Litchfield decides late to leave a length ball outside off stump. It is too late for Bhatia to react as the ball flies past her.

Vastrakar to Litchfield, beaten! The ball pitches and moves away from the left hander’s push forward. She scampers through for a single with a punch to mid off. FOUR! Mooney hooks a delivery angling down leg.

Renuka to Mooney. Keeper Yastika Bhatia comes up to the wickets to curb Mooney’s aggression. A maiden over. 

After multiple misses in Vastrakar’s over, Litchfield latches on a short delivery and pulls it to the fence.

FOUR! Too full from Renuka and Mooney takes one foot out and drives it to perfection. 

Pooja Vastrakar to Mooney. FOUR! Full and wide and Mooney leans in for a drive. FOUR again! A sublime on drive from Mooney. Vastrakar going too full and Mooney making the most of lack of swing.

Two slips and a gully in place. Renuka strays on the pads and Mooney clips to fine leg to get off the mark. Just the single from the over. 

Beth Mooney takes her guard at the striker’s end. She will have Phoebe Litchfield for company at the other end. Renuka Singh to bowl the first over.

A mammoth lead for India at the end of first innings. The batters have set up a neat little platform for the bowlers to capitalise on and get India its first win over Australia in Tests.

Sutherland to Renuka, FOUR! Another top edge over the keeper which races to the fence.

CAUGHT! Renuka makes room to slog but Sutherland’s bouncer follows her and she ends up chipping it to gully. 

Renuka Singh c Gardner b Sutherland 8 (9)

WICKET! Kim Garth finally gets a delivery past Deepti’s bat to crash the stumps. The ball nips in, takes the front pad and dislodges the bails. 

Deepti Sharma b Garth 78 (171)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is the final batter in. A wicket-maiden from Garth.

Deepti taps a bouncer from Sutherland between deep point and third man but can only take a single. FOUR! Renuka blindly swings at a bouncer, gets a top edge which flies fine and crosses the rope. That’s 400 for India.

Kim Garth to Deepti. An edge to third man on the first delivery but Deepti denies the single to keep Renuka Singh away from strike. Drives the fourth to deep cover and takes the run. Renuka sees out the two remaining deliveries. 

Sutherlands bangs one in for Vastrakar, but the batter is prompt in transfering weight on the back foot and hooking it past fine leg for FOUR! FOUR more. Another bouncer and this time the pull shot takes a top edge and flies over the keeper. WICKET! The third short ball does the trick, Vastrakar pulls straight to square leg.

Pooja Vastrakar c Garth b Sutherland 47 (126)

Garth to continue. A full toss for Deepti. She drives it looking to pierce cover and mid off but Perry puts in a diving save to allow just a single. Vastrakar’s punch to cover allows her a single. The fifth delivery nips into Deepti but she manages to flick it to square leg for one run.

Annabel Sutherland with the second over of the day. Starts with a bouncer on the first delivery, Deepti attempts a pull shot but misses. Uses the pace on the third delivery to guide it to short third, one run. Vastrakar pulls to fine leg, single. Deepti slaps to cover for another run.

Kim Garth will bowl the first over of the morning session. Deepti Sharma on strike.

Sticks to a good length on the first three deliveries but strays in line on a couple of them. Deepti flicks the fourth behind square for a single. FOUR! An edge on Vastrakar’s first delivery which goes between fly slip and third man.

The players are on the field, all set for the start of the day’s play.

Deepti Sharma 70*(147)

Pooja Vastrakar 33*(115)

India XI: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh (debut), Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Thakur, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Australia XI: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy (c, wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Kim Garth, Lauren Cheatle (debut)

The One-off India W vs Australia W Test match will be telecast on the Sports18 Network in India. Live streaming of the match will be available on Jio Cinema and FanCode app/website in India.