Australia make strong comeback after Mandhana ton on rain-truncated day two
India started day two of the one-off Test on an overnight score of 131/1, with Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut at the crease. Mandhana got a massive reprieve early on in the day when she was caught off a no-ball off Ellyse Perry's bowling. She made the most of the lifeline given to her and notched up her maiden hundred in Test cricket with a four.
45.2 Caught off a no-ball 👻
— ICC (@ICC) October 1, 2021
51.5 Raises her first ever Test century 👏
A momentous and rollercoaster day for Smriti Mandhana 🎢
📺 Watch the match live on https://t.co/CPDKNx77KV in select regions!
🧮 Match centre | https://t.co/cKISkEvPH4 pic.twitter.com/VYtKzCysnp
The triple-figure mark didn't slow down her scoring as she continued to dispatch boundaries at will while Raut at the other end played a solid supporting role.
Ashleigh Gardner finally got Australia the breakthrough they were looking for as Mandhana fell for short mid-off trap, hitting it straight to Tahlia McGrath. Raut was the next batter to make the long walk back after Molineux induced an edge that Healy gobbled up behind the stumps. Though the umpire ruled it not out, Raut decided to walk despite the absence of DRS for the one-off Test.
Mithali Raj and debutant Yastika Bhatia took India to lunch at 230/3, having added 99 runs to their overnight score.
Dinner break on day two 🍲
— ICC (@ICC) October 1, 2021
India add 99 runs in the first session but have lost the wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut.
📺 Watch the match live on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v in select regions!#AUSvIND | 📝 https://t.co/cKISkEeePw pic.twitter.com/NXknC0N9gy
India started the second session positively but Australia put the brakes on scoring with wickets of the two set batters. Ellyse Perry was finally rewarded for her great bowling as Beth Mooney completed a stunning, low catch at gully to dismiss Bhatia. Six overs later, a mix-up between Raj and Deepti Sharma saw the former fall short of her crease with Annabel Sutherland getting the direct hit.
The play was halted soon and eventually called off after bad weather and persistent rain forced the players off the field. India finished the day on 276/5.