Sydney, Feb 13 (.) India have used their only tour match before the NRMA Insurance multi-format series against Australia to get a victory under their belt, cruising past the Governor General’s XI in Sydney.
With the series-opening T20I to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, the Indians picked a virtually full-strength XI and ran away with a five-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare.
Chasing 121, the visitors never looked like falling short with several of their experienced middle order getting starts on the good batting track.
Although the required run rate was never an issue, stars Harmanpreet Kaur (26) and Richa Ghosh (18) lost their wickets only through impatience.
India lost 2-0 in five balls as the Powerplay drew to a close, with key batters Smriti Mandhana (36) and Jemimah Rodrigues (2) gone in quick succession.
But the Governor General’s XI were unable to keep striking, with a 45-run stand between Kaur and Deepti Sharma (23no) ultimately proving the difference.
Fresh off her maiden Women’s Premier League campaign, Lucy Hamilton was the pick of the bowlers with 1-12 (3) while Tess Flintoff 1-5 (2) was also economical.
Earlier, GG XI’s captain Charli Knott won the toss and chose to bat first but her side were immediately in trouble when she and fellow opener Georgia Voll were out inside the Powerplay.
There was no respite for the middle order either as first-change bowler Arundhati Reddy gave nothing away on her way to figures of 2-15 (4).
The hosts were in dire trouble at 6-52 but were somewhat rescued by a 52-run partnership between Alana King (17) and Sianna Ginger (40no), the latter of which sent three sixes over the rope in her 31-ball knock.
Chloe Ainsworth finished the innings strong with a boundary off the final ball which pulled the GG XI’s up to 8-120 from their 20 overs, but it was a total that always looked short.
Corporal Frances Whittaker from the Australian Defence Force was the team’s nominated 12th for the day and got her hands on the ball late in the game while fielding as a substitute.
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