Women's T20WC 2020: Cricket fraternity hails India’s convincing win against Australia in tournament opener

Australia's batting collapsed while chasing the target of 133.

Poonam Yadav was the stand-out bowler for India | Getty

The much-awaited ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 got underway on Friday (February) with Australia taking on India in the tournament opener at Sydney Showground Stadium.

Asked to bat first, the Women in Blue posted 132/4 in 20 overs. India’s batting unit failed to impress as none of them managed to touch the 50-run mark. Deepti Sharma was the top-scorer with 49 not out off 46 balls. Jess Jonassen was the stand-out bowler for Australia, claiming 2 for 24 in her stipulated four overs.

Defending the paltry total, India bundled out the hosts for 115 with Poonam Yadav (4/19) and Shikha Pandey (3/14) doing the bulk of the damage.

Australia were comfortably placed at 55/1 in 8.2 overs when Rajeshwari Gayakwad removed Meg Lanning to trigger a collapse. Apart from dismissing one Aussie opener each, Poonam and Shikha ran through the middle and lower order as the defending champions slipped to 101/7 in the 17th over.

While Poonam got rid of Alyssa Healy (51), Rachael Haynes (6), Ellyse Perry (0) and Jess Jonassen (2), Shikha sent Beth Mooney (6), Ashleigh Gardner (34) and Annabel Sutherland (2) packing.

Thanks to the brilliant fielding from Jemimah Rodrigues, Delissa Kimmince (4) and Molly Strano (2) got run out as the Aussie innings eventually folded in 19.5 overs.

Cricket fraternity was highly impressed with India’s bowling and fielding in the tournament opener.

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By Salman Anjum - 21 Feb, 2020

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