AUS W vs IND W 2026, Only Test Day 1: Bowlers make hay on 13-wicket day

India and Australia commenced the one-off pink-ball women’s Test at the WACA Ground in Perth on March 6. Australia skipper Alyssa Healy, playing her final international game, called correctly at the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that paid off as the hosts dismissed India for just 198 before ending the day at 96 for 3.

On expected lines, bowlers made hay in the pacey and bouncy WACA track with 13 wickets falling on the opening day. Annabel Sutherland scalped four wickets for 46 runs, while debutant left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton claimed three for 31, including the prized scalp of Smriti Mandhana, whom she cleaned up for 4 to make an immediate impression. Hamilton’s other prey were India’s top-scorer Jemimah Rodrigues (52 off 84) and Sneh Rana.

While Australian pacers exploited the pace-friendly conditions to their advantage, their catching remained a constant concern as they gave the visitors multiple reprieves, including one to Rodrigues when she was yet to get off the mark.

After Mandhana was sent back, Shafali Verma struck a fluent 48-ball 35 with six boundaries, but Sutherland had her caught behind. Sutherland also removed Pratika Rawal (18 off 43) before Darcy Brown cleaned up Harmanpreet Kaur, who looked positive in her 15-ball 19 with four fours.

Sutherland continued to make inroads as she dismissed Deepti Sharma cheaply before Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh steadied the ship, albeit briefly. Ghosh held one end up while Rodrigues looked intent on scoring, bringing up her half-century off 74 balls.

Ghosh eventually became Ahsleigh Gardner’s victim, which gave Australia the opening they were looking for as India collapsed from 150 for 5 to 157 for 8. Rodrigues’ was a soft dismissal, as she flicked Hamilton straight to square leg. Deepti was caught in two minds as she edged Hamilton behind.

Kashvee Gautam showed some spirit in her unbeaten 54-ball 34, adding 38 in a ninth-wicket stand with debutant Sayali Satghare, but Sutherland sent back the latter to pick her fourth before Brown undid Kranti Gaud to end India’s innings.

In response, Australia’s top-order was put to the test by visiting pacers under the lights. Satghare gave the team a spectacular start as she pegged down Georgia Voll’s leg-stump, breaching the bat-pad gap with a prodigious inswinger. Phoebe Litchfield looked out of sorts in her tentative 39-ball stay before Gaud sent her back courtesy of Rodrigues’ excellent catch at backward point.

Healy walked out to a rousing reception, but she could score just 13 before picking out backward point to give Satghare her second wicket. Ellyse Perry and Sutherland staged a brief recovery, taking Australia to 96 for 3 at the close of the first day’s play. Perry stood unbeaten on 43 while Sutherland was unbeaten on 20.

Australia Women vs India Women 2026, Only Test: Day 1 Brief scores

India 198 (Jemimah Rodrigues 52, Shafali Verma 35, Kashvee Gautam 34*; Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31)

Australia 96/3 (Ellyse Perry 43*; Sayali Satghare 2-24, Kranti Gaud 1-28)

Australia trail by 102 runs