Highlights, India Women vs Australia Women 2018, 1st ODI at Vadodara: Bolton's hundred leads visitors to 8-wicket win

How dearly did India miss their senior-most player Mithali Raj today!? Hopefully for the hosts she will be fit for the upcoming games the first one being in two days time or else it could be really difficult against this Australian side.

Based on the manner of today's defeat, @BCCIWomen have a mountain to climb in the next two games. Class and dominance on display today from @SouthernStars. #INDvAUS #INDWvAUSW

— Mr. Pennypacker (@_sarcasric) March 12, 2018

Bolton’s century draws appreciation from Alex Blackwell

Yes Bolts 👏👏👏 #tonup #INDWvAUSW

— Alex Blackwell (@AlexBlackwell2) March 12, 2018

Nicole Bolton named as the Player of the Match for her brilliant unbeaten 100 off 101 balls.

Bolton: The hundred is right up there. I was looking forward to the series against India. They are an awesome team. I was well-supported throughout the innings.

Meg Lanning, Australia captain: Yeah it is. Great start to the series. Certainly felt more comfortable in the middle happy to get the first one. I think to restrict them to 200 was good effort. We wanted to do well today, we wanted play our way, even though we were chasing 200, we wanted to be aggressive and Nicole led the charge in that way.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain: It was a hard day for us. We didn’t play good cricket and did not deserve to win. When Mithali was not playing we were one batter short. I am very happy for the lower middle order but the total was not enough. Vastrakar played very well in South Africa and showed character today. We have to focus on our batting and need good contribution from the bowlers.

Symbolic of the nature if this result, the winning runs come off a misfield to an attacking shot. By finishing this chase in just over 32 overs, Australia have laid down the Green and Gold standard that they will look to set in this series. India playing without Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami for only the second time in nearly a decade, completely outplayed today.

Australia Women 202/2 after 32.1 overs (Nicole Bolton 100, Ellyse Perry 25)

And the game’s over with a four Australia draw first blood in the series and what a start already. This is a complete display of dominance by the Aussies who showed professionalism with both bat and ball. Superb hundred from Bolton and brilliant spell of bowling by Jonassen tighened the Indian screws, helping the visitors win the game by 8 wickets.

Bolton brings up her hundred at almost a run a ball. The Aussie dressing room is joined by a smattering of fans from the stands, but the mood around the ground is resignation . A solid innings thigh, fully deserved

Australia Women 198/2 after 32 overs (Nicole Bolton 100, Ellyse Perry 21)

Great start to the series for Bolton she registers a brilliant ton in the first ODI. Australians now just 3 away from victory.

Australia Women 198/2 after 32 overs (Nicole Bolton 100, Ellyse Perry 21)

Great start to the series for Bolton she registers a brilliant ton in the first ODI. Australians now just 3 away from victory.

Australia Women 193/2 after 31 overs (Nicole Bolton 98, Ellyse Perry 18)

Sharma continues. A boundary to start the over and then two singles off the next two balls and then a boundary to finish the over. The Australians are in a hurry to finish the game.

Four! Yet another boundary by Bolton. She wants to finish the game quick.

Four! Bolton is continuing her carnage with the bat, gets another boundary for her side.

Australia Women 183/2 after 30 overs (Nicole Bolton 89, Ellyse Perry 17)

Yadav continues. Fifty partnership up between Nicole Bolton and Ellyse Perry. A four off the fifth ball. Eight runs off that over and the players take drinks.

Four! Bolton gets another boundary. This time to deep square leg.

Australia Women 175/2 after 29 overs (Nicole Bolton 83, Ellyse Perry 15)

Deepti Sharma replaces Gayakwad. Bolton employs the reverse sweep. Some risk being taken there. No real need for that though, but well, how long can you control your instincts? Two runs taken. The last ball is punched off the back foot by Bolton for a boundary.

At this point the biggest talking point of the match is whether Nicole Bolton will get her 100. She needs 25, more, and Australia need 36 to win. She has clearly been going hammer and tongs since passing her 50. Wouldn’t hurt to give Vastrakar and Rodrigues some bowling, they seem the only two players with some semblance of confidence in the field.

Four! Bolton rocks back and goes past cover and fetches a boundary. Her ninth boundary of the innings.

Australia Women 166/2 after 28 overs (Nicole Bolton 75, Ellyse Perry 14)

Poonam Yadav to Bolton. Three runs off the first three balls. The next ball is wide. Yadav to erring in length again. Left alone by the batter though. The last ball is punched past extra cover for a single. Four runs from that over.

Australia Women 162/2 after 27 overs (Nicole Bolton 72, Ellyse Perry 13)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Bolton. The Australians look unhurried and completely in control. Five runs from that over.

Australia Women 157/2 after 26 overs (Nicole Bolton 70, Ellyse Perry 10)

Poonam Yadav continues. India too defensive for one’s liking. The field placements could have been more aggressive. A slip would be a must when your only chance in the match is by taking wickets. Lack of ideas from the Indians here. A fine delivery that pitches and moves away from the left-handed Bolton. Bit of a shout, but the ball was missing the stumps. Eight runs taken.

Australia Women 149/2 after 25 overs (Nicole Bolton 68, Ellyse Perry 6)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the attack now. Can she make amends for her goof-up in the earlier over with a wicket? Not in this over. Australians look extremely comfortable as they calmly collect three runs and move even closer to the middling target.

Australia Women 146/2 after 24 overs (Nicole Bolton 67, Ellyse Perry 4)

Poonam Yadav back into the attack. A sitter missed by Gayakwad. And that was the dangerous Bolton too. The ball takes the top edge and spoons up in the air. Gayakwad makes a mess of a regulation chance. Three runs from that over.

Australia Women 143/2 after 23 overs (Nicole Bolton 66, Ellyse Perry 2)

Kaur continues. Concedes a four to Bolton, who is now running away with the game. A poor delivery from the Indian captain and it got the treatment it deserved. Nine runs from that over.

Four! Bolton is looking unstoppable. Short and asking to be hit from Kaur and Bolton pulls away with disdain.

Australia Women 134/2 after 22 overs (Nicole Bolton 59, Ellyse Perry 0)

Pandey to Bolton. A huge mix-up and a superb piece of fielding by Veda Krishnamurthy to get rid of the Australian captain. A direct hit was the only option for India there, and India got the direct hit. Ellyse Perry comes in. Bolton gets a boundary at long-on off the fifth ball.

Four! Bolton carries on in her merry way. Lofts Pandey over mid-on and and finds the fence.

OUT! A piece of magic on the field for India. Mix-up between Lanning and Bolton and a direct hit sees the back of the former. 

Meg Lanning run out (Veda Krishnamurthy) 33(38)

During the lunch break, there were more tha 2400 women and girls in the ground, making a human chain, giving Baroda something to cheer for. There’s been nothing to cheer for since then. A lucky wicket of Healy has only seen Meg Lanning and Bolton put up a 50 partnership. At this rate the game won’t last 40 overs.

Australia Women 128/1 after 21 overs (Nicole Bolton 53, Meg Lanning 33)

Harmanpreet Kaur continues. Australia doing it with ease now. Five singles in that over.

Bolton smashed a half-century in the first of the two warm-up games

That's fifty for Bolts! Great start to the tour for our dynamic opener, just 57 balls required.

Aus 1-123 (20) https://t.co/ltUB6pUWl7 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/lvYwoJXkC7

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) March 12, 2018

Australia Women 123/1 after 20 overs (Nicole Bolton 50, Meg Lanning 31)

Pandey returns. Nicole Bolton brings up her 12th ODI fifty in that over. Three runs from that over. India seemed to have given up already. The heads are dropping.

Fifty for Nicole Bolton with a single to backward square leg. 50 off 57 balls. This is her 12th ODI fifty.

Australia Women 120/1 after 19 overs (Nicole Bolton 48, Meg Lanning 30)

Harmanpreet into the attack. Gets dismissed for a four off the first delivery. Swept away by Bolton. It was a delivery that asked to be punished. Three singles in that over after that. Australia inch closer to their target.

Four! A juicy flighted delivcery from Harmanpreet and Bolton helps herself with a sweep to the square leg fence.

Australia Women 113/1 after 18 overs (Nicole Bolton 42, Meg Lanning 29)

Poonam Yadav comes back into the attack. Starts off with a wide. Jemimah Rodrigues puts in a stellar effort at deep mid-wicket to save a certain boundary. Another top class fielding effort at the boundary by Rodrigues. But the ball seemed to have touched the rope. Great effort. Warranted a better result. Fifty partnership up between these two batters in that over too.

Australia Women 105/1 after 17 overs (Nicole Bolton 36, Meg Lanning 28)

Gayakwad continues. Three singles off the first three balls. More misfield from the Indians. Only a single conceded though. The fielding in this match overall has been really shoddy. Five runs from that over.

Australia Women 100/1 after 16 overs (Nicole Bolton 33, Meg Lanning 26)

A couple of fours in that over for Lanning. India should have stopped the second one. It was a bit sloppy on the field. Australia bring up their 100 in that over. It has been an easy ride so far.

Megastar Lanning in some fine company!

Fewest innings to score 3,000 ODI runs
57 Hashim Amla
62 Belinda Clark
64 MEG LANNING
69 Viv Richards
@SouthernStars #INDvAUS @CricketAus

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) March 12, 2018

Four! Lanning cuts again and bit of a misfield from the fielder at extra cover allows the ball to race away to the fence.

Four! Lanning cuts and cuts well. Past backward point for her fourth boundary.

Australia Women 90/1 after 15 overs (Nicole Bolton 32, Meg Lanning 17)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is back into the attack. Two runs is all that the Australians would get from that over. They are way ahead in terms of the asking rate and loads of wickets in hand.

A deflated India seem to have turned up, after not getting the early breakthrough they needed. The bowling, especially from Pandey, has been short and wide, feeding the strength of the Australians. There are some question mark about plans, bowling outside the off with no fine leg won’t get you wickets. Consequently, the crowd starting to thin out.

Australia have taken maximum advantage of that

India have bowled way too short, especially Pandey. Wicket too off a short and wide ball. #INDWvAUSW

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) March 12, 2018

Australia Women 88/1 after 14 overs (Nicole Bolton 31, Meg Lanning 16)

Deepti Sharma is back into the attack. A nice and tight over. Only a run from that over and it’s time for drinks.

Australia Women 87/1 after 13 overs (Nicole Bolton 30, Meg Lanning 16)

Poonam Yadav to Bolton from round the wicket. A single of the first ball. A poor delivery is pulled away for a boundary. Yadav is not getting her line right. Bowls a wide. Eight runs from that over.

Four! Lanning pulls a Poonam Yadav delivery that is short and going down leg and fetches a boundary.

Australia Women 79/1 after 12 overs (Nicole Bolton 28, Meg Lanning 11)

Vastrakar into the attack. A single off the first ball. One run off the first four balls and the fifth ball is pulled away by Lanning for a boundary. Just when India look to have brought things under some control, they concede a boundary. That has been the story in this innings so far. Five runs from that over.

Four! Lanning pulls the fifth delivery from Vastrakar’s over in front of square and collects a boundary. Desperate dive at the fence to no avail.

Australia Women 74/1 after 11 overs (Nicole Bolton 27, Meg Lanning 7)

Poonam Yadav comes back into the attack. A four off the second delivery. And then Yadav oversteps. No ball and a free hit. Bolton tries to send the free hit ball out of the park. but doesn’t get the connection. Seven runs from that over.

Four! Lanning gets a boundary. Smashes one over mid-on. A poor delivery from Poonam Yadav and punished.

Australia Women 67/1 after 10 overs (Nicole Bolton 26, Meg Lanning 2)

Pandey back into the attack. Pandey strikes just when Australia were looking dangerous. That’s the 50th ODI wicket for her. Meg Lanning is he new batter in. Gets to 3000 with a single off her first ball. A four for Bolton. Seven runs off that over.

Four! Bolton turns a full toss round the corner and the ball trickles away to the fence.

OUT! Pandey gets rid of the dangerous-looking Healy. A wicket in the nick of time for India. Caught at point. 

Alyssa Healy c Veda Krishnamurthy b Shikha Pandey 38(29)

Australia Women 60/0 after 9 overs (Nicole Bolton 21, Alyssa Healy 38)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the attack with her left-arm orthodox spin. Doesn’t get her and length right and is hit for two boundaries by Healy. Nine runs from that over.

Four! The last delivery is short and is Healy helps herself to another boundary.

Four! Healy pulls the first ball from Rajeshwari Gayakwad to the backward square leg fence.

Australia Women 51/0 after 8 overs (Nicole Bolton 21, Alyssa Healy 29)

Deepti continues. Australia go past fifty in that over. Bolton sweeps for a boundary. Eight runs off that over.

Four! Sweep from Bolton and a boundary. Australia race past fifty.

Australia Women 43/0 after 7 overs (Nicole Bolton 14, Alyssa Healy 28)

Pandey continues. Bolton collects a boundary with a characteristic cut past backward point. Then a ferocious pull, but finds the fielder. She would have felt she missed out on a boundary there. Five runs off that over.

Four! Another cut. A Bolton trademark. Past backward pouint and into the boundary.

Australia Women 38/0 after 6 overs (Nicole Bolton 9, Alyssa Healy 28)

Deepti Sharma into the attack with her medium pace. Nearly a wicket off the first ball. Thick outside edge off Bolton’s bat. Just away from first slip. Healy gets another boundary, her fourth as she goes deep into her crease and pulls past midwicket. Nine runs from that over.

Four! Healy pulls and finds the gap. She is playing a blinder here.

Australia Women 29/0 after 5 overs (Nicole Bolton 7, Alyssa Healy 21)

Pandey in with another over. Healy gets a four with a slash past backward point and then lofts one over mid-on for a six. Eleven runs off that over.

SIX! Healy lofts Pandey clean as a whistle over wide mid-on for a maximum. You won’t see a shot hit with greater authority.

Four! Healy slashes outside the off-stump and bisects the two fielders at the point region.

Australia Women 18/0 after 4 overs (Nicole Bolton 6, Alyssa Healy 11)

Vastrakar in with her second over. Tests Bolton with a bouncer, followed by a fuller one. Bolton is up to the task. Vastrakar comes round the wicket. Bolton takes a single and Healy smashes the last ball to the mid-wicket fence. Australia have really started well.

Four! Healy pulls and finds the midwicket fence. Powerfully hit that.

Australia Women 12/0 after 3 overs (Nicole Bolton 5, Alyssa Healy 6)

Pandey continues. Another good-looking cut shot by Bolton, but she still can’t find the gap. A single nevertheless. Healy gets a single of her own with a cut to backward point. Bolton makes it a good over for Australia with a four off the last ball. Short and wide from Pandey and punished by Bolton. Six runs from that over.

Four! Bolton finally gets one of her cuts through the gap and fetches her first boundary.

Australia Women 6/0 after 2 overs (Nicole Bolton 0, Alyssa Healy 5)

Vastrakar bowls the second over. Offers some room outside the off stump to Healy and Healy gets Australia underway with a drive for four. Another good-looking drive from Healy, but straight to Raut at point. Raut gets hit on the shin but saves a certain boundary. Six runs from that over.

Some sort of an activity that took place during the innings break at the Reliance stadium in Vadodara

Some pretty cool activity happening during the innings break here at the Reliance Stadium in Baroda now.

An all-women chain is being formed along the boundary rope. By the look of it, the number of participants seems to be pretty high.#IndWvAusW pic.twitter.com/0w2cOtE4xa

— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) March 12, 2018

Four! First runs for Australia. Full and wide from Vastrakar and Healy drives through cover-point for a boundary.

Australia Women 0/0 after 1 over (Nicole Bolton 0, Alyssa Healy 0)

A good start for India. Pandey begins with a maiden. A few forceful shots from the Australian batters, but they fail to pierce the gap.

Nicole Bolton and Alyssa Healy start off the Australian innings. Shikha Pandey bowls the first over for India.

India Women 200 allout after 50 overs (Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0*)

India again flattered to deceive. They started off with a lot of promise, with Poonam Raut especially looking in fantastic touch. But the Australians stuck to it and choked the Indians. First it was Megan Schutt and then the spinners Ashleigh Gardner, Amanda Wellington and Jess Jonassen. The big-hitting Harmanpreet Kaur got stuck, scoring only nine runs off 29 balls, an indication of how well the Australians were bowling. In the end it took cameos from Pooja Vastrakar and Sushma Verma to taken India to a respectable total. Jonassen was the most successful bowler with a figure of 4/30. One fears the 200 that India got may just not be enough.

Indian supporters very exciting to see the youngster do well with the bat. 

18 year old Pooja Vastrakar hits her maiden ODI 50 today building up a much needed partnership with Sushma Verma, eager to see what she does with the ball. #INDWvAUSW #bleedblue

— Filmy_Trader (@shivanimotipara) March 12, 2018

India Women 200 allout after 50 overs (Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0*)

Jonassen bowls the last over. Vastrakar brings up her fifty in that over, but perishes trying to score big. Rajeshwari Gayakwad joins Poonam Yadav in the middle. A run out off the last ball and India limp their way to 200. A bit lightweight total and it would take a lot of effort to defend. 

Australia need 201 to win.

Fifty from Vastrakar props India to 199, and although it’s been valiant, it’s unlikely to be enough. Some fancy work on the boundary ends her gutsy innings, But she’s shown the kind of fight this crowd turned up to watch. India all out on the last ball.

OUT! A run out off the last ball of the innings as the Indians look to pinch an extra run. 

Poonam Yadav run out 5(11)

OUT! Vastrakar perishes trying to gather some big runs, but what a fine innings from her. She has given the Indian innings some respectability.         

Vastrakar c Haynes b Jonassen 51(56)

Vastrakar brings up her first ODI fifty with a single in just her second game. Rescued India when they were in a precarious position.

India Women 195/8 after 49 overs (Vastrakar 48, Poonam Yadav 3)

Schutt in for her last over. Three runs off the first four balls. Good, wicket-to-wicket stuff from Schutt. Four runs from the penultimate over. Fine figures for Schutt, bowling 10 overs for 37 runs and a wicket. She has been one of the main reasons India have been kept under leash today.

India Women 191/8 after 48 overs (Vastrakar 46, Poonam Yadav 1)

Jonassen comes in with her next over. A wicket off the first ball. Lucky break for the Austraians. Verma departs after a well-made 41. That brings Poonam Yadav out in the middle. Two runs and a wicket from that over. India will be desperately looking to get past 200, which will be a boost psychologically.

OUT! Sushma Verma goes. Picks out the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Unlucky for her. A few inches on either side of the fielder and that would have been a six. But a fine innings from her.      

Sushma Verma c Bolton b Jonassen 41(71)

India Women 189/7 after 47 overs (Vastrakar 45, Sushma Verma 41)

Schutt to Sushma Verma. No run as Verma is beaten. A single of the next ball. Vastrakar plays a delightful drive to fetch her seventh boundary. Seven runs off that over. Both batters approaching fifties.

Four! Vastrakar comes down the track and drives over extra cover. Superb shot.

India Women 182/7 after 46 overs (Vastrakar 40, Sushma Verma 39)

Jonassen returns. Two runs off the second ball. Fine piece of fielding at long-on. Vastrakar reverse sweeps and gets two more, but that was risky. She was a goner had she missed the ball. Four runs is all that India will get from that over. Jonassen pulls things back after the leakage of runs in the previous over.

Gutsy and fortuitous stand of 50 from Vastrakar and Verma, taking India to some respectability. And it’s given the 3000 strong (my estimation), something to get behind. Meanwhile, outside the boundaries, hundreds of kids are being lined up in preparation for attempting a world record 4000 strong circle of females. 
Going through the stands, there are quite a few genuine supporters, as well as the usual school children and pass holders.

India Women 178/7 after 45 overs (Vastrakar 36, Sushma Verma 39)

Perry in with her seventh over. Couple of boundaries at third man in that over, one deliberately-played, another edged and Verma adds a third four, but without the help of the Australia fielder in the deep. Fifteen runs off that over. India gaining back the initiative.

Four! Terrible, terrible fielding at the square leg fence. The umpteenth time the Australians have let the ball slip to the boundary in his innings.

Four! Edged by Verma and the ball runs away past the ‘keeper to the third man fence.

Four! A delightful shot from Vastrakar. Opened the face of the bat at the last moment.

India Women 163/7 after 44 overs (Vastrakar 31, Sushma Verma 29)

Carey comes back. Vastrakar pulls a short delivery from Carey and the ball goes on the bounce to mid-wicket. Bit short from Carey in this over, and then a full toss. Fine fielding at the square leg fence to save a boundary. Verma will be disappointed to miss a boundary there. Fifty partnership up for Verma and Vastrakar off 74 balls.

India Women 159/7 after 43 overs (Vastrakar 30, Sushma Verma 26)

Perry into the attack now. A short loopy delivery. A tennis shot by Verma off the fourth delivery and the ball nearly carries to the fielder at mid-wicket. A run out chance at the non-striker’s end too. No harm done. Three runs from that over.

Just to show that the Aussies are human, there have been two lives to the Indians in the last to overs, much to the delight of the crowd. It just shows that even Australia will crack if put under consistent pressure. Regular wickets has denied India that opportunity.

India Women 156/7 after 42 overs (Vastrakar 30, Sushma Verma 23)

Gardner comes back into the attack. Verma fetches a couple to deep extra cover off the third ball. Gets a good stride forward and times it well. Pulls a shortish delivery to deep mid-wicket next. Vastrakar gets a big six off the last ball of the over for a maximum. 11 runs from that over.

SIX! Big shot, big runs. Vastrakar gets down one one knee and slog sweeps over deep midwicket for a maximum. She is playing a gem of an innings.

India Women 145/7 after 41 overs (Vastrakar 23, Sushma Verma 19)

Schutt to Verma. One run off the first three balls. Some misfield off the next ball fetches Vastrakar a boundary.

Four! Some horrendous fielding again. A gentle drive from Vastrakar and a mix-up between two fielders at the mid-off region and the ball escapes to the fence.

India Women 140/7 after 40 overs (Vastrakar 19, Sushma Verma 18)

Carey to Vastrakar. The Indian batter gets her fourth boundary in that over, and almost gets out with an uppish shot that falls just short of mid-on. Four runs off that over. With 10 overs to go now, all India will be looking at is a respectable score. Their innings is in tatters.

Four! Vastrakar goes over mid-off and collects her fourth boundary.

India Women 136/7 after 39 overs (Vastrakar 15, Sushma Verma 18)

Schutt back into the attack. Some terrible fielding in that over followed by some high quality stuff. A mix-up between the Indian batters had Verma way short of her crease, but Schutt failed to gather the throw from the deep. Elementary mistake from the Australian pacer. A fine stop at mid-off later in the over.

Only half-done!? Slightly harsh on the Aussies, they are well and truly on top. Their game to lose.

The @SouthernStars producing the goods with the ball. Glad to see the spinners are enjoying the Indian conditions. However only half the job is done #INDWvAUSW

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) March 12, 2018

India Women 134/7 after 38 overs (Vastrakar 14, Sushma Verma 17)

Nicola Carey is back into the attack. Vastrakar is put down by Lanning at mid-off. The Australians set very high standards on the field. That should have been pouched, but one has to remember Lanning is coming back from an injury and may not have gone full throttle because of that. Three runs from that over.

India Women 131/7 after 37 overs (Vastrakar 13, Sushma Verma 15)

Gardner continues. Nearly a stumping off the first ball, but the ‘keeper failed to gather the ball cleanly. A single off the first five balls and a boundary for Vastrakar off the last ball.

Four! Vastrakar gets another boundary. Opens the bat at the last minute and steers the ball away.

India Women 126/7 after 36 overs (Vastrakar 9, Sushma Verma 14)

Jonassen to Vastrakar. The first ball is blocked. A hsarp run and then consecutive boundaries in that over for Vastrakar. These runs are like gold dust for India.

Yep, that’s right! Also, six out of the seven wickets that have fallen so far have been taken by the spinners.

Wellington & Jonassen both tossing the ball up very effectively, lot to expect from Rajeshwari & poonam. #IndvAus #IndWvAusW

— mon (@4sacinom) March 12, 2018

Four! Vastrakar goes over exra cover now and fetches a boundary. Consecutive boundaries for India.

Four! Vastrakar makes room and smashes one past the non-striker for a boundary.

India Women 118/7 after 35 overs (Vastrakar 1, Sushma Verma 14)

Wellington with her sixth ball. She is nearly unplayable at the moment! A fine delivery turning away from the batter, beating her outside edge. Three runs from that over.

India Women 115/7 after 34 overs (Vastrakar 0, Sushma Verma 12)

Jonassen continues. Another one-run over as the Indians continue to struggle against the Aussie spinners. At this stage 200 looks far, far away.

India Women 114/7 after 33 overs (Vastrakar 0, Sushma Verma 12)

Wellington with her fifth over. A gem of a delivery to beat Verma with her first ball itself. One that pitches on middle and off and moves a shade away. Verma beaten all ends up. Only a run from that over as Australia continue to apply the chokehold.

India Women 113/7 after 32 overs (Vastrakar 0, Sushma Verma 11)

Jonassen to Verma. A single off the first ball. Jonassen gets rid of Pandey in that over. India in all sorts of trouble. Pooja Vastrakar comes into bat. We are into the Indian tail now. A single and a wicket from that over.

OUT! Jonassen strikes as Pandey chips one tamely to mid-on. India in dire straits now, losing their seventh wicket for 113.    

Shikha Pandey c Perry b Jonassen 2(6)

India Women 112/6 after 31 overs (Shikha Pandey 2, Sushma Verma 10)

Wellington into the attack. A superb catch by Mooney gets rid of the dangerous Veda Krishnamurthy. Shikha Pandey comes in to bat. Off the mark with a sweep for a couple. Four runs from that over.

OUT! Wellington gets rid of Veda Krishnamurthy. Fine catch by  Beth Mooney at short cover. 

Veda Krishnamurthy c Beth Mooney b Amanda Wellington 16(19)

At second drinks, a run rate of 3.6 won’t be good enough to challenge the Aussies. A late charge with few resources required, so India have an uphill task. The low strike rates continue, with Sushma Verma batting on 9 off 26. Lots of bowling rotation from the Aussies.

India Women 108/5 after 30 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 15, Sushma Verma 9)

Jess Jonassen back into the attack. She has a change of ends. She is giving absolutely nothing away. The fifth ball angles in and hurries Verma. Maiden and the players disperse for drinks.

India Women 108/5 after 29 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 15, Sushma Verma 9)

Gardner in with her fifth over. Eventless over that. Only three runs from it.

India Women 105/5 after 28 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 14, Sushma Verma 7)

Carey with another over. Hundred up for India in that over. And then some sloppy work on the field gets India a bonus boundary. Six runs from that over.

Four! Some poor fielding from the Aussies. Very uncharacteristic of them and Verma gets a boundary.

India Women 99/5 after 27 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 13, Sushma Verma 2)

A big shot by Veda fetches her a boundary. Lofted with authority over wide mid-on. That is the highlight of that over. A single apart from that.

Four! Veda comes down the track and hoists the first delivery from Gardner’s next over over mid-on and into the fence.

India Women 94/5 after 26 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 8, Sushma Verma 2)

Carey comes back into the attack. Good change of pace from her has Verma in a bit of difficulty on the fifth delivery. The Indian batter pushes forward and is beaten. She was early into her shot. Three runs from that over.

That was outstanding from Nicole Carey, who took a sharp catch to get rid of Deepti Sharma

This was brilliant from Carey! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/tG4CGF8FE1

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) March 12, 2018

The crowd could care less about the match situation, they could care less about how India’s top order has been sent back. Every boundary has cheered with gutsy chants of India India everytime there is a boundary. 

One of India’s problem areas will be tested here. the keeper and the lower order’s contributions with the bat have been an issue, and unless they reconstruct the innings, this could be over very quickly.

India Women 91/5 after 25 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 6, Sushma Verma 1)

Ashleigh Gardner comes back into the attack. Three singles in that over. India will hae to rebuild and a lot depends on the two batters at the crease at the moment. At the halfway stage, India in a spot of bother.

India Women 88/5 after 24 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 4, Sushma Verma 0)

Schutt continues and gets the prized catch of Harmanpreet Kaur. The Indian captain hung her bat at a straight one from Schutt and got a tickle to the ‘keeper. Sushma Verma comes to the crease. Australia tightening the noose now. Verma would have departed off the third ball she faced, but Alyssa Healy drops a tough chance behind the stumps. A wide and a wicket from that over.

OUT! Kaur departs nicking one to the ‘keeper. India losong their way a bit. 

Harmanpreet Kaur c Alyssa Healy b Schutt 9(29)

India Women 87/4 after 23 overs (Veda Krishnamurthy 4, Kaur 9)

Jonassen with another over. A wicket off the first ball itself. Deepti Sharma perishes to a blinder of a catch from Carey. Veda Krishnamurthy is the new batter in and she gets a four away almost immediately as she goes to the long-off fence.

Four! Veda Krishnamurthy gets het first boundary as she sends the last ball from Jonassen’s over to the long-off fence.

OUT! Oh what a catch by Nicola Carey at square leg. Deepti has to depart. 

Deepti Sharma c Nicola Carey b Jonassen 18 (25)

India Women 83/3 after 22 overs (Deepti Sharma 18, Kaur 9)

Schutt back into the attack. She has bowled with great control and has kept things tight, going for only 14 runs off 4 overs. Good change of pace on the third delivery has Kaur checking her shot. Schutt is bowling wicket-to-wicket and not giving anything away. But as you say that, she drifts down the leg side and concedes a wides. An extra run as the ‘keeper fails to gather the ball cleanly. A rare blip that. A single off the next ball and four runs from that over.

India Women 79/3 after 21 overs (Deepti Sharma 16, Kaur 9)

Jonassen with the 21st over. A quick single off the fourth ball. An extravagant sweep from Deepti off the next ball for a single. Three runs taken off that over.

India Women 76/3 after 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 14, Kaur 8)

Wellington continues. A brilliant shot by Deepti fetches a maximum. Gets stuck into that lofted shot over long-on. Nine runs from that over. A good one for India.

Stadium officials claiming there are already 7000 in attendance, although that might be a bit of an exaggeration. India’s problems aren’t exaggerated though. In good batting conditions, after winning the toss and batting first, 4 wickets down inside 20 overs is a quandary. The lower middle order will be tested today, which is good for India in the long run.

SIX! Deepti launches into Wellington and smashes that delivery over long-on.

India Women 67/3 after 19 overs (Deepti Sharma 5, Kaur 8)

Jess Jonassen comes in to bowl with her left-arm orthodox spin. Only a couple of runs off that over. Deepti gets the last ball away to mid-wicket.

India Women 65/3 after 18 overs (Deepti Sharma 4, Kaur 7)

Wellington back into the attack. Gets the wicket of Raut off the second ball. A massive blow for India. Raut was really looking good for a big one. Deepti Sharma is the new batter at the crease and gets a four through mid-off. Five runs off that over.

Four! Deepti gets her first boundary. Drives through mid-off and to the fence.

OUT! Raut caught plumb in front of the stumps. Huge wicket for Australia  

Punam Raut lbw b Amanda Wellington 37(50)

India Women 60/2 after 17 overs (Poonam Raut 37, Kaur 7)

Carey comes in for her fifth over. The last ball nearly had Kaur bowled. The Indian captain tried to hit across the line and misses. That ball could have easily skidded on to thye stumps. No harm done. Two runs from that over.

India Women 58/2 after 16 overs (Poonam Raut 37, Kaur 6)

Play resumes after drinks. Australia persists with Perry. A run off the first three balls. The Indian batters looking unhurried. The last ball is dispatched to the mid-on fence by Raut. She had played a similar shot for a boundary earlier in her innings too. Six runs from that over.

Four! Raut goes over the top on mid-on again and finds the fence.

At the first Drinks break, Australia will be the happier team. The Indian scoring rate has slowed down a bit, the fields are still up, and one new batter at the crease. India might just bat a bit conservatively till the 30th over, because one of the concerns for them is the lower middle order, as Harmanpreet mentioned in the press conference yesterday.

India Women 52/2 after 15 overs (Poonam Raut 32, Kaur 5)

Carey to Raut. The second ball is steered to third man for a single. And that’s all that they will get in the over. With that it’s time for drinks.

India Women 51/2 after 14 overs (Poonam Raut 31, Kaur 5)

Perry comes back into the attack. A single off the first ball. Kaur hammers a boundary through cover-point. Hit with tremendous power. A faint appeal off the fifth ball. Going down leg clearly. Five runs off the over.

An atypical opening partnership from India. usually Mandhana is the aggressor, Raut is the slow builder. Here Raut was on 24 (30) and Mandhana on 12 (24) before she was dismissed. The inability to convert good balls into singles caught her. The Baroda crowd has been quite vocal, already more than a thousand in the stands, but that moment, and the unlucky loss of Jemimah, silencing them .

Four! Width on the off side and ferociously cut away by Kaur. Through cover-point and to the fence.

India Women 46/2 after 13 overs (Poonam Raut 30, Kaur 1)

Carey with another over. Calmly played away. Maiden.

India Women 46/2 after 12 overs (Poonam Raut 30, Kaur 1)

Amanda Wellington into the attack with her right-arm leg breaks. A freak dismissal off the third ball. A faint nick down the leg side to the ‘keeper. Captain and talisman Harmanpreet Kaur is the next batter at the crease. She starts off with a confident drive to deep extra cover for one. Two runs off that over.

OUT! Rodrigues goes caught down the leg side by the ‘keeper. Unlucky but she has to depart.  

Rodrigues c Alyssa Healy b Amanda Wellington 1(8)

India Women 44/1 after 11 overs (Poonam Raut 29, Rodrigues 1)

Carey continues. The Indians fail to find the gaps in the field. Cary bowling a good ine and length. Maiden over that. Australia are pulling things back after a good start by the Indians.

India Women 44/1 after 10 overs (Poonam Raut 29, Rodrigues 1)

Gardner gets a wicket off the first ball as Mandhana perishes trying to force the pace. Jemimah Rodrigues is the new batter in. Raut gets a boundary. A risky shot and was not too far away from the mid-on fielder. Six runs from that over.

Four! Raut goes on the leg side and just avoids the fielder at mid-on. The ball runs away to the fence.

OUT! Mandhana tries to hoist a delivery from Gardner over long-on but fails to get the connection. Caught in the deep. India lose their first wicket on 38.

Mandhana c Lanning b Gardner 12(25)

India Women 38/0 after 9 overs (Poonam Raut 24, Smriti Mandhana 12)

Carey continues. A good tight over till the last ball when Raut plays an audacious flick for a six over backward square leg.

SIX! A fantastic shot by Raut. The nonchalant flick of the wrists and the ball sails over ropes at backward square leg.

India Women 32/0 after 8 overs (Poonam Raut 18, Smriti Mandhana 12)

Bowling change. Some spin now. Ashleigh Gardner comes to bowl with her off-breaks. Good flight from the bowler. Raut comes down the track and on-drives. Sharp single at mid-on. A run off the fourth ball and that’s all that India get in that over.

India Women 31/0 after 7 overs (Poonam Raut 17, Smriti Mandhana 12)

Schutt with another over. The third delivery is a wide. Direct hit off the fifth ball and there is a deflection and an overthrow. The Indians are looking in fine fettle.

India Women 28/0 after 6 overs (Poonam Raut 17, Smriti Mandhana 10)

Perry to Raut. A boundary off the fourth ball. Fine cover drive by Raut. Leans forward and sends the ball away to the fence. Four runs from that over.

Four! Raut drives through cover again and pierces the gap. Copybook stuff. She is in fine form.

As the match gets underway, there is a unique feature to it. At the Lunch interval, the Baroda Cricket Association will attempt to create a World Record, of the most number of women and girls holding hands in a circle. They aim for 4000+, in conjunction with an NGO that is working for breast cancer awareness

India Women 24/0 after 5 overs (Poonam Raut 13, Smriti Mandhana 10)

Schutt continues. Good, tight bowling again. The last ball is hit in air by Mandhana. One bounce to mid-wicket. That could have easily gone to hand. Maiden over.

India Women 24/0 after 4 overs (Poonam Raut 13, Smriti Mandhana 10)

Perry continues. Bowling to Mandhana. The second ball is on the pads and is turned around the pads for a boundary. A quick run off the next ball. Mandhana could have been in trouble had the mid-off fielder been more accurate. Five runs from that over.

Four! Perry is wayward. Drifts down leg and Mandhana helps herself.

India Women 19/0 after 3 overs (Poonam Raut 13, Smriti Mandhana 5)

Schutt continues. Bowling to Mandhana. Good tight over. Mandhana drives the last ball towards cover-point for a single.

India Women 18/0 after 2 overs (Poonam Raut 13, Smriti Mandhana 4)

Two boundaries in that over from Perry. India have started really well. The Indian openers have started well.

Four! The last ball of the over goes for another boundary. Raut leans on into the shot and goes in front of square on the off side.

Four! Raut gets another boundary. Opens the face of the bat.

India Women 10/0 after 1 over (Poonam Raut 5, Smriti Mandhana 4)

The first two balls are watchfully played. The third ball is cover driven for a boundary. Schutt gets some shape into the batter. Mandhana gets another boundary in the over. Good start for India.

Four! Fantastic off drive by Mandhana. Great shot for the second boundary of the innings.

Four! Raut drives and it is a pretty one too. Gets a good stride out and goes through cover-point for the first boundary.

The Indian openers Poonam Raut and Smriti Mandhana are out in the middle. Megan Schutt starts the bowling for Australia. No slips in place. There is a short mid-wicket, keeping in mind that Schutt can move the ball into the batters.

Mithali Raj didn't attend the PC yesterday because she was feeling unwell. Can't see her in warmups today. Will be interesting to see who comes out for the toss..#INDWvAUSW

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) March 12, 2018

That's our playing XI for the first @paytm ODI against Australia. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/cTGNHUBMhS

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 12, 2018

India have won an important toss, and will be batting first. Mithali Raj is not yet recovered, so it will be Harmanpreet Kaur leading. That means Jemimah Rodrigues will certainly play, though I suspect she would have anyways, Punam Raut might be the lucky one. For Australia, Ellyse Villani is out, and that means wicketkeeper Beth Mooney will play as a fielder. As I said before, pace bowling all-rounder Nicola Carey to debut. 

Beautiful morning in Baroda, welcome to the Firstpost Live Blog. But there is some concern for India straight away, as Mithali Raj isn’t warming up. She missed the Press conference and training yesterday because she was unwell, and clearly she hasn’t recovered in time. Nicola Carey likely to debut for Australia. Toss and team news coming up.

India Women (Playing XI): Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Sushma Verma(wk), Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Poonam Yadav.

Regular captain Mithali Raj is unwell and misses out. Harmanpreet Kaur to lead the hosts. Australian captain Meg Lanning back after a lay-off.

Jemimah Rodrigues to make her debut for the hosts.

Australia Women XI: Meg Lanning(c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy(w), Nicole Bolton, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Megan Schutt, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Amanda Wellington

India Women have won the toss and elected to bat.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the duel between India and Australia in the first Women’s ODI at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara on Monday.