India’s scintillating start in the first Women’s T20I against Australia was ruined after rain arrived at the Metricon Stadium, Carrara after India batted for 15.2 overs, and did not allow playing any further. The two sides split points in the multi-format series, with Australia leading 7-5.
India were 131/4 at that stage. Jemimah Rodrigues was batting on 49 and Richa Ghosh on 17.
Earlier, Meg Lanning won the toss and handed caps to Hannah Darlington and Tahlia McGrath, as did Harmanpreet Kaur to Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh.
The decision of opting to field did not go in Lanning’s favour. Shafali Verma (18) and Smriti Mandhana (17) got India off to a blistering start. They added 31 in 20 balls before Ashleigh Gardner (2-28), who came into the attack in the fourth over, and dismissed them both.
Rodrigues, who last played for India against England in an ODI in July, took charge from there. She struck seven fours in her 36-ball stay, looked ominous throughout her innings, and reached the 1,000-run milestone in T20Is in en route. At No. 4, Kaur impressed on return until Sophie Molineux trapped her leg before inside the Powerplay.
Bhatia (15) played second fiddle to Rodrigues in their 51-run stand before being undone by Georgia Wareham (1-3) in the 13th over. Ghosh and Rodrigues were playing aggressively to take India past 175, but relentless rain spoiled their fireworks to get going.
The two sides will again meet on 9 October, for the second T20I of the three-match series at the same venue.
Brief scores: India Women 131/4 in 15.2 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 49*; Ashleigh Gardner 2-28) vs Australia Women. No result.