Australia Women vs India Women, One-off Test Match Summary

That's all we have from this fascinating Test match but this multi-format series isn't over yet. Australia Women lead India Women 6-4. The action now switches to the T20Is and the first of three matches will be played on October 7th. The match will start at 6.40 pm local (8.40 am GMT) but the coverage will begin sooner. Do join us for that one. Till then goodbye and take care.

Australia Women skipper, Meg Lanning says, that they had to fight it out and is proud of the group. Mentions that without the weather they would have got a result. Tells that they certainly came to win and so did India. Credits India for playing so well and putting them on the back foot.

India Women captain, Mithali Raj says, that if they would have got four odd wickets then they would have gone for a few more overs. Mentions that Jhulan Goswami has been their best bowler over the years and they got to see why she is the best.  Adds that they do have quite young talents on their side and she is impressed by Yastika Bhatia and how Richa Ghosh played in the ODIs. Mentions that Jhulan's experience came in handy as young seamers, Pooja Vastrakar and Meghna Singh were given an opportunity to learn from her. Ends by saying that she is sure that Harmanpreet will take the field in T20Is.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH, Smriti Mandhana says, that the ton was definitely one of the top highlights for her. Mentions that she is happy that she passed those tough phases of the 80s and 90s and got to that hundred and was lucky with that no ball on 80, as that cleared her mind and wanted to make it count. Tells that to have two or three slips, a gully only happens in Test cricket and to play this historic Test is a great feeling as they were playing the Day-Night Test for the first time. Adds that they don't have much time as they move forward to the T20I series and have about three days to rest.

After the dinner break, India Women came out for their second innings and the onus was on Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma to score quickly but Ellyse Perry and Darcie Brown bogged them down for a bit. The India Women openers did start motoring along and went past yet another half-century partnership. Just when Smriti Mandhana looked in full flow, Sophie Molineux sent her back to the pavilion and Ashleigh Gardner got rid of the dangerous Yastika Bhatia soon after. This put the brakes on the India Women innings for a while. Mithali Raj didn't declare when the tea break took place and Shafali Verma, along Punam Raut came out to bat. Verma brought up a half-century and Raj did finally declare with the lead being stretched to 271 runs. With just 32 overs remaining in the day's play, it was always going to be tough for either team to force a result. Jhulan Goswami and Pooja Vastrakar did provide a couple of breakthroughs for India Women but the Aussie skipper, Meg Lanning ensured that no further wickets fell. With just one hour remaining the two captains decide to shake hands and this historic Test match came to an end as both teams shared 2 points each. A draw was maybe a fair result but India Women were ahead throughout most of this match and have shown that they are on par with the Australia Women team in all aspects.

The outcome was not the one both groups of supporters were looking for but it is a result that will please the neutrals. Apart from the result, everyone will be happy with how the match was played. We saw more than a full day washed out due to severe weather conditions and still, the match was absolutely gripping till the end. India Women played beautifully with the bat in the first innings and put up a huge total of 377/8 on the back of a brilliant ton from Smriti Mandhana and a gritty half-century from Deepti Sharma down the order. Others chipped in as well but India Women bowled equally well and didn't give an inch to Australia Women batters in that first innings. Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner were the heroes for Australia Women with the bat as both notched up half-centuries, helping their team avoid the follow-on. India Women had a lead of 136 runs as Meg Lanning decided to declare with Australia Women on 242 for 9, which was a very sporting decision trying to force a result.

Well, well. The umpires signal for DRINKS but Mithali Raj is having a discussion with her team. Meg Lanning is also seen having a word with the India Women skipper. Mithali Raj finally gives her decision and she's content with a DRAW. So, the historic pink-ball Test comes to a premature end and the result no one wished for but looked the most likely is the final outcome. The game was not moving at a rapid pace in this final session and the decision to shake hands seems a logical one. So, both teams get 2 points added on and the T20Is will now decide the series.

Tosses it up, outside off. Perry lunges forward and blocks it out.

On middle, blocked out.

Short and outside off, Perry chops it back towards slip.

Full and outside off, Perry steps out and drills it to cover.

This one is pushed quicker and Perry is pushed on the back foot. Perry looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal but turned down. Maybe an inside edge as well.

Gaikwad sees Perry charging down the track and fires it in at the toes. Perry bunts it back to the bowler.

A length ball, on top of off. Lanning taps it to point. A maiden from Pooja Vastrakar.

Pitched up, outside off and this one seams back in off the surface. Lanning makes an easy leave.

Back of a length, around off. Meg Lanning rocks back and taps it to point.

Full and straight, well kept out by Lanning.

Length again, this time its on middle and angling in. Lanning defends it out.

A length ball, outside off. Lanning lets it through to the keeper.

Very full, on off and kept out by Perry.

On middle and leg, Lanning works it to mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter one, on off. Lanning nudges it towards point.

Gaikwad gives this one some air and Perry dances down the track. She flicks it towards square leg and they get a single.

A tad bit short and cut away to point.

Nicely tossed up, around off. Perry strides forward to defend but gets hit on the pads. Rajeshwari Gayakwad appeals but the umpire remains unmoved.

Time for some spin now! Rajeshwari Gayakwad comes into the attack.

Pitched up, on middle. Lanning defends it off the front foot.

Length again, angled in at middle and leg. Lanning keeps it out on the leg side.

Length ball, around off and shaping away a bit. Lanning leaves it alone.

FOUR! A short ball now, on off stump. This one doesn't rise enough and Meg Lanning gets right on top of the bounce. Lanning pulls it with authority and the ball races into the vacant mid-wicket fence.