Sneh Rana, Smriti Mandhana shine as India register historic Test win over Australia

India created yet another history as they defeated Australia for the first time to clinch the Only Test by eight wickets on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Indian women’s cricket team’s first Test win over Australia has come 46 years after the first Test between the two sides. In the 10 matches before the Mumbai Test, Australia had won four while six ended in a draw. This was also the first test between the two sides since September 2021 and the first in India since 1984.

“Feeling very happy, history created as this is our first Test win against Australia,” India all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar said after the history-making win. On the final day of the match, India were handed a 75-run target which they achieved inside 19 overs and with a loss of two wickets. Smriti Mandhana (38) and Jemimah Rodrigues (12) were at the crease when India won the match. On Day 1, it was Australia who batted first but Vastrakar’s four-wicket haul and three wickets for Rana restricted the visitors to 219. Tahlia McGrath was the only batter to score a fifty. In reply, India amassed 406 with debutant Richa Ghosh making 52. Mandhana (74), Rodrigues (73), Deepti Sharma (78) and Vastrakar (47) were the other major contributors. Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner took four wickets for the Aussies. Australia needed a solid total in the second innings to put up a challenge to draw the match, but Rana spun a web around them with four wickets as Alyssa Healy’s side was bowled out for 261. McGrath was once again the only batter to cross the 50-run mark. This is the second consecutive Test win for India. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co defeated England earlier this month by 347 runs, setting the record for biggest win margins (by runs) in women’s Tests.