Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj has on Sunday (October 3) shared her experience of playing her maiden Day/Night Test, which ended in a draw primarily due to bad weather during the first two days of the pink ball game against Australia in Carrara.
India Women put up a highly commendable performance in their maiden Day/Night Test against Australia, as the tourists managed 377 in their first innings, and then played 37 overs for 135/3 in the second innings before declaring after tea and setting a 272-run target for the hosts in just 32 overs.
The Australians were 36/2 in 15 overs before the teams shook hands to settle for a draw, as time ran out on the final day in Carrara, and both teams settled for two points on October 3.
The hosts are currently leading the multi-format series with 6 points while India has 4 points. Now, the teams will lock horns in a three-match T20I series starting on October 7.
Mithali told the media during the post-match press conference, “In England, we were on the verge of losing, and the lower-order put on a brave performance. Coming to Australia Smriti has played well, her hindered was fabulous. Seamers have bowled well. Jhulan is obviously an experienced player and she has been in a good rhythm. Along with her [Jhulan] the two young seamers has stood out.”
She further added, “It was a mixed feeling. I expected quite a movement with the new ball but it didn't happen. In the latter half of the 1st innings, there was a bit of a movement. For my first experience, I thoroughly enjoyed being on the ground.”
On the last-minute change of the call at the toss, the Indian skipper said: “You know with the history of me losing the toss I don’t want it to become my legacy. And the way the girls have been pulling my legs for that so I thought let me change [the toss call] but clearly I think I need to take a cue from MS Dhoni regarding how to win the toss.”
Brief Scores:
India Women: 377 for 8d in 145 overs and 135/3 in 37 overs (Shafali Verma 52; Ashleigh Gardner 1/21, Sophie Molineux 1/23). Australia Women: 241 for 9d in 96.4 overs (Ellyse Perry 68, Jhulan Goswami 2/33, Pooja Vastrakar 3/49) and 36/2 in 15 overs.
(With ANI Inputs)
