Commonwealth Games, India vs Australia Cricket Match, Highlights: Ashleigh Gardner hit an unbeaten 52 as Australia defeated India by three wickets in a Group A fixture of the ongoing Commonwealth Games at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Chasing a target of 155, Australia suffered a top-order collapse as Renuka Singh ripped past their batting line-up taking figures of four for 18. However, Gardner and Grace Harris added 50 plus runs for the sixth wicket before the former and Alana King took Australia across the finishing line. Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur played a 52-run knock as India posted 154/8 in 20 overs against Australia in Group A clash of the ongoing Commonwealth Games. Earlier, Shafali Verma missed her fifty by 2 runs as she was dismissed in the 12th over of the innings, and as a result, India lost their third wicket. Earlier, Smriti Mandhana departed after scoring 24 runs and India were given a body blow by Darcie Brown and soon after, Yastika Bhatia was run-out, leaving India 2 down inside ten overs. Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia in the Group A clash in the ongoing Commonwealth Games at Edgbaston, Birmigham. India and Australia will be taking on each other in the first Group A match in the women's cricket event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games. Both sides have had memorable contests in the past and it would be interesting to see how they perform in the first match. Australia recently played against Pakistan and Ireland in a tri-series while India defeated Sri Lanka. Both teams will look to start off on a good note to begin their CWG campaign on a high.
Here are all the Highlights from India-Australia Match straight from Edgbaston, Birmingham
15:20PM: India's playing XI
Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Meghna Singh (debut), Renuka Thakur.
15:12PM: Australia's playing XI
Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
15:08PM: Here's what Harmanpreet Kaur said at toss
"Wicket looks good. We have trained hard last couple of months and see what works for us. Side is looking positive. We are going with three spinners, two medium pacers, keeper and the rest batters," said Harmanpreet during the toss.
15:02PM: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur wins toss, opts to bat vs Australia In Group A clash
14:37PM: The toss will take place at 3 PM, it would be interesting to see how Indian team approaches the contest
CWG, IND vs AUS, Group A Live
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Right then, that is all we have from this first game. It was quite a fascinating encounter and there is another cracking contest coming our way shortly. It will be Barbados Women going up against Pakistan Women at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT). Our build-up though begins in advance. So do join us for the same. Cheers!
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Earlier in the day, India, after electing to bat, put up a fighting total on the board courtesy Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma. That though was not enough as Australia chased it down despite being 5 down for below 50. Australia Women were good with the ball as well and that allowed them to chase down this total despite not starting well with the bat.
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India started off brilliant, we should actually say Renuka Singh was the tormentor in chief. She got 4 quickly and Sharma also chipped in with one. However, the two did not get a lot of support. The likes of Meghna Singh, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad were quite poor, they just were not upto the mark with the ball. Had they bowled well, the story could have well been different. India will feel, they had the game in their grasp and it will be a difficult loss to swallow.
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Let me remind you, Australia, chasing 155 were reeling at 49-5. They lost all the big names for not a lot, the likes of Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath. Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes all fell for nothing. The run rate was almost touching 9 but Grace Harris counter attacked. She found the boundaries at will and Garnder at that time was happy to play second fiddle. The two added a 50-plus stand in no time but there was another twist in the game as Harris and Jess Jonassen fell in quick succession. Gardner though kept her cool, King too hit a few good strokes to ease the pressure of her and in the end, it is the Aussies who get over the line.
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What a win, what a win for the Aussies! They have just shown why they are the best side in the world at the moment! Take a bow Gardner, what a knock. She showed all her experience and took her side over the line with a fine half ton.
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18.64Deepti Sharma to Alana King
FOUR! That's it! Alana King finishes it off in style! Sharma goes fuller and on off. King slogs it hard through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep tries to stop it but it races away quite quickly and reaches the fence. Australia Women win by 3 wickets!
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18.50Deepti Sharma to Alana King
Slower through the air, on off. King pushes it towards the off side.
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18.41Deepti Sharma to Ashleigh Gardner
Shorter delivery, outside off. Ashleigh Gardner cuts it to deep point for a single.
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18.34Deepti Sharma to Ashleigh Gardner
FOUR! That should be the killer blow! Fifty for Ashleigh Gardner as well. What a knock this has been, simply brilliant! Gardner steps out and hits it through the gap between mid off and covers for a boundary.
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18.22Deepti Sharma to Ashleigh Gardner
Two more! Outside off, this is cut through point. Two taken.
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18.10Deepti Sharma to Ashleigh Gardner
Shorter and on off, this is played to point.
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17.61Radha Yadav to Ashleigh Gardner
Shortish delivery on off. Ashleigh Gardner pushes it to long off for as single. 27 from the last two overs!
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17.54Radha Yadav to Ashleigh Gardner
FOUR! The game is drifting away from India now! This is fuller, on off. Ashleigh Gardner makes room and drives it over extra-cover for a boundary.
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17.42Radha Yadav to Ashleigh Gardner
Good work by Meghna Singh at long on! Tossed up on middle. Ashleigh Gardner dances down the track and hits it straight down the ground. Singh moves to her left and stops it inside the fence. Two taken.
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17.34Radha Yadav to Ashleigh Gardner
FOUR! Boundaries are flowing now for Australia Women! Short and wide outside off. Ashleigh Gardner cuts it through point for a boundary.
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17.21Radha Yadav to Alana King
On the shorter side, around off. King drags it down to deep mid-wicket for a single.
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17.10Radha Yadav to Alana King
Tossed up on off. King skips down the track and has a mighty swing across the line. However, she mistimes it completely.
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16.64Meghna Singh to Ashleigh Gardner
FOUR! Poor delivery and it's another boundary for the Aussies! 15 from the over! Short and wide outside off. Ashleigh Gardner cuts it over point for a boundary. 21 needed now from 18 balls!
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16.51 lbMeghna Singh to Alana King
Angling into the pads. King looks to work i towards the leg side. She misses and the ball goes off her pads towards short fine leg. A leg bye taken.
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16.40Meghna Singh to Alana King
A very full delivery on off. King drives it left of the bowler.