Australia Women vs India Women Pink Ball Test Day 2: Live Updates from Gold Coast
AUS W vs IND W: Welcome to our live coverage of historic Pink Ball Test between Australia Women and India Women from Carrara Oval in Gold Coast.Lightning and rain has interrupted play in the second session on Day 2. India were 276 for five when the match was halted on the second day. Deepti Sharma was batting on 12 and Taniya Bhatia was yet to open her account as the players walked off the field and the covers were brought on. There was a prediction for some thunderstorms around this time and it soon started raining. India lost two wickets in the second session, including that of skipper Mithali Raj for 30 and debutant Yastika Bhatia for 19. Earlier, flamboyant opener Smriti Mandhana shattered a few records en route to slamming a magnificent maiden Test century as India progressed to 231/3 at the dinner break.
UPDATES
16.20 IST: Stumps. For the second successive day, no play was possible in the third and final session as bad weather forces early stumps.
14.40 IST: Tea taken. The weather has only worsened since the play was suspended, with ice pellets covering the whole ground.
13.55 IST: Play suspended due to bad weather. The players are walking off as bad weather interrupts play for the second day running. There is no rain yet, but lightning can be seen at a distance. India 276/5
13.40 IST: WICKET! Big wicket for Australia as Mithali Raj is run-out. A brilliant direct hit from Annabel Sutherland sends the Indian captain back to pavilion. India 274/5
13.20 IST: WICKET! Yastika Bhatia is dismissed. She flicks one to midwicket but the ball took the leading edge, as Beth Mooney took a forward-diving catch. Deepti Sharma is the new batter in. India 263/4
13.00 IST: Mithali Raj and Yastika Bhatia are putting on a calm shift after Punam Raut's departure left India with two new batters facing the new ball in twilight. Mithali in particular has dealt with the spinners impressively so far. India 257/3
12.00 IST: Dinner. India lost the key wicket of Raut before the second new ball, which could pose some problems as we go into the twilight session of Day 2. Captain Mithali Raj has played a composed innings so far, but Yastika Bhatia might be receiving words of caution after she was beaten while attempting an adventurous stroke towards midwicket. India 231/3
11.43 IST: WICKET! A gritty innings from Punam Raut comes to an end. Raut offered a defensive stroke towards a fuller delivery, but finds an edge with a sharp turn. The umpire rules not out but Raut walks off, garnering an applaud from the crowd and the Indian dressing room.
11.15 IST: Smriti Mandhana departs for 127. Ashleigh Gardener finally gets the big breakthrough for Australia and a historic innings from the Indian left-handed batter comes to an end. Mithali Raj joins Punam Raut in the middle. India 205/2
10.00 IST: CENTURY! Smriti Mandhana slams her maiden Test ton in Gold Coast! This is the first-ever Test century by an Indian in women's Test in Australia.
9.30 IST: The play begins on Day 2. Mandhana, who has looked very comfortable on the crease so far, will be eyeing her maiden century in Test cricket. Raut, meanwhile, showed immense grit and patience since coming to the crease, following the dismissal of Shafali Verma.
9.15 IST: After a large part of Day 1 was washed away due to incessant rain in Gold Coast, the weather forecast for the second day looks relatively better. While the rain is predicted during the scheduled start of the play, the skies are expected to be clear as the day goes ahead. India 132/1 (Mandhana 80*, Raut 16*)