And that’s it from us. I’ll see you tomorrow for a 4am start on what promises to be a cracking day’s Christmas Eve cricket. Thanks for the messages, have a wonderful day.
Updated
Australia’s scoring was careful - at 3.8, 2.8 and 1.9 in the three sessions – but notch by notch they knocked off those runs and started to build a lead. 46 at the moment – another 100 and I wouldn’t bet against them. Another 80 perhaps. Runs all the way down the order, with Perry outstanding for her 45 and McGrath fighting her way through a tricky period for a hugely valuable 73. Healy played nicely for 32 till she was Harmanpreeted. India wheeled away in the field and the new ball in the hand of Vastrakar is singing “crucial” tomorrow.
Shelley Nitschke, Australia coach, is handed the microphone: “Our batting was more what we wanted it to be at today. Look I think, regardless of the lead, we’ll have to bowl really well. If we get up [the lead up to] 150-200 we’re right in this game, though we know how well they bat in home conditions.”
Updated
Stumps: Australia 233-5 lead India by 46 runs
90th over: Australia 233-5 ( Sutherland 12, Gardner 7) Time for one over of Pooja Vastrakar hustle. Ooof: the fourth ball barely bounces and Gardner just jams her bat down in time. An lbw appeal off the last – safe - and that is stumps on an intriguing day.
In a recent media interaction, Australia captain Alyssa Healy described India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as “the ultimate competitor”.
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) December 23, 2023
Feature will be out tomorrow 🗓️
89th over: Australia 231-5 ( Sutherland 11, Gardner 6) Penultimate over. Three dots – and then, in a final twist, with nine balls to go, they take the new ball. Rana flights the shiny new cherry, Sutherland defends. A maiden.
Key event
88th over: Australia 231-5 ( Sutherland 11, Gardner 6) Harmanpreet reviews an lbw decision, but by the time they’ve gathered to watch the replay they’re all laughing. But actually it is closer than it looks, hits her on the thigh and is umpire’s call. India hold onto their review. On comms they despair that Harmanpreet doesn’t bowl more.
Updated
87th over: Australia 230-5 ( Sutherland 9, Gardner 6) We continue with the old ball. Floodlights on now, short leg crouches. The last is an arm ball that goes straight through.
86th over: Australia 229-5 ( Sutherland 9, Gardner 6) Harmanpreet, shirt untucked, rubs the ball furiously on her sleeve. Lovely drift for the first three then Gardner tucks into some flighted filth.
85th over: Australia 225-5 ( Sutherland 9, Gardner 2) Another maiden for Rajeshwari. Five overs to go.
84th over: Australia 223-5 ( Sutherland 9, Gardner 1) Anyone looking for some Christmas aggression under the tree, still time to buy a bottle of Eau de Harmanpreet.
83rd over: Australia 223-5 ( Sutherland 9, Gardner 1) Oooh, a fair dinkum ripper fizzes past Sutherland’s outstretched bat from Rajeshwari. A maiden.
Hello Geoff Wignall! “I’m only following the match in bits and pieces as the Portuguese montane winter is temporarily gorgeous” [sound idyllic] “but I was wondering what total you reckon India would get happy to chase? Up to 250? Does it look like being a decent fourth innings wicket or a difficult one?
“Australia still have an obviously long way to go to post something competitive, but just how far?”
The pitch is starting to rip and turn. Throw in a nutcracker of pressure… I reckon 150 could be tricky…The current lead is 36.
82nd over: Australia 223-5 ( Sutherland 9, Gardner 1) Some sloppy cricket all round, as the Australians complete a yes, no, yes, no dance between the wickets and India somehow fail to run them out.
81st over: Australia 221-5 ( Sutherland 8, Gardner 0) A maiden from Rajeshwari.
80th over: Australia 221-5 ( Sutherland 8, Gardner 0) Actually the ball didn’t ricochet off Healy’s elbow, but her bat as she angled it in self defence from the fired-in throw. Harmanpreet didn’t cover herself in glory there. Who knows if that unsettled Healy, but she fell next ball. Huge wicket for India.
Harmanpreet fires in a throw at Alyssa's end - she is furious. #CricketTwitter #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/APTiqJnGOZ
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 23, 2023
WICKET! Healy lbw Harmanpreet 32 (Australia 221-5)
So much going on here! The ball before, Harmanpreet had hurled the ball back at Healy and hit her on the elbow before the ball ricochetted off for four overthrows. Teetering the line of acceptable aggression that. Next ball, Healy goes for the sweep and is hit on the front pad. Given out on the field, Healy reviews, but the decision remains.
79th over: Australia 216-4 ( Healy 28, Sutherland 7) Oh dear. Healy dropped twice in the over at silly point. The first very difficult, the second less so, but Rodrigues can’t hold onto either. One bangs her on the shoulder, the other through her hands.
78th over: Australia 216-4 ( Healy 28, Sutherland 7) A boundary! A fine sweep by Sutherland zips away to the boundary as Harmanpreet drifts legside. Next ball Sutherland gets an inside edge onto the pad.
77th over: Australia 209-4 ( Healy 27, Sutherland 1) More slow accumulation, just one off Rajeshwari and the new ball approaches. Could really do with this Test stretching into five days – feel it deserves it.
76th over: Australia 209-4 ( Healy 27, Sutherland 1) Harmanpreet, who feels like the danger woman at the moment, continues. Sutherland picks up a single off her 15th ball.
75th over: Australia 208-4 ( Healy 27, Sutherland 0) A Rajeshwari maiden. The lead 22.
74th over: Australia 208-4 ( Healy 27, Sutherland 0) Harmanpreet has another lbw shout given out on the field –but overturned on review. Sutherland saved by the ball missing leg. Healy grins. The umps struggling a little with lbws in this game.
73rd over: Australia 206-4( Healy 25, Sutherland 0) Oh gosh, a missed lbw review by India, Sutherland sweeps, misses and the tv pictures show it would have been out. Rajeshwari misses out on her first wicket.
Drinks - Australia, 206-4, lead by 19
72 overs: Australia 206-4( Healy 25, Sutherland 0) Harmanpreet comes into the attack and immediately strikes… or does she? McGrath given out lbw on the field but she reviews straight away and DRS shows it missing leg stump. Indian joy evaporates in the pop of a balloon. But not for long! The big one as McGrath is flummoxed through the gate and the 66-run stand comes to an end.
WICKET! McGrath b Harmanpreet 73 (Australia 206-4)
Inside edge onto the stumps! McGrath pushes forward and the ball sneaks off the bat and dribbles into the timber. Harmanpreet takes off in a run of celebration, arms behind her like Concorde.
71st over: Australia 203-3 (McGrath 71, Healy 24) What do you mean this attritional cricket isn’t inspiring you to send me emails? Some impressive quick running between the wickets turns one to two, oof, and then Rajeshwari rips past Healy’s proffered bat.
70th over: Australia 201-3 (McGrath 71, Healy 22) Australia’s captain and vice-captain showing why England’s smash and grab approach to Test batting in India might not have been the best option. Deepti appeals for an lbw outside the line. Harmanpreet’s permanent frown deepens.
Updated
69th over: Australia 200-3 (McGrath 70, Healy 22) A Christmas hamper of singles.
Tahlia McGrath is the first visiting player to make half-centuries in both innings of a women's Test in India.#INDvAUS https://t.co/AkhDH3n0SU
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) December 23, 2023
68th over: Australia 198-3 (McGrath 69, Healy 21) Deepti flights it up, Australia are not tempted.
This is more a county blog question than a OBO question but can anyone recommend an idiot-proof cinnamon bun recipe? Ambitiously hoping to make some on Christmas eve for Christmas day breakfast.
67th over: Australia 197-3 (McGrath 69, Healy 20) Healy sweeps Rana, without total conviction, and crosses the boundary for the first time. The Indians definitely do NOT want her feeling at home.
Updated
66th over: Australia 191-3 (McGrath 68, Healy 15) A Deepti maiden, the Australian lead four. A shame not to see more people in the ground – if you’re in India, is that a surprise? I thought the rarity of women’s Test cricket might bring people in - even if just as a curiosity.
65th over: Australia 191-3 (McGrath 68, Healy 15) Repeat after me: never underestimate the Aussies. McGrath, emboldened, goes for another huge drive – which misses the outside edge by a whisker. The crowd break into some encouraging chants.
Australia take the lead!
64th over: Australia 190-3 (McGrath 68, Healy 14) Australia finding it difficult to pierce the inner ring of Indian fielders. From the bench, the Indian coach urges some umph into proceedings; Harmanpreet claps urgently. Forget completely what I said about piercing the field – three consecutive fierce boundaries from McGrath, one punched through the covers, another cut through point, the last panned dismissively past a diving mid-on. And that brings up the fifty partnership and eats up the deficit. Game on!
63rd over: Australia 178-3 (McGrath 56, Healy 14) McGrath thunders down the pitch, smacks Rajeshwari with some aplomb, but to no reward.
62nd over: Australia 175-3 (McGrath 54, Healy 13) An easy bye off a legside delivery from Renuka. Up flashes a fact box: if India win, it will be their first victory over Australia in Test cricket. Seeming a bit less likely with every passing delivery though. An appeal for lbw, Renuka likes it but Harmanpreet studiously ignores the DRS call. Would have missed leg.
61st over: Australia 173-3 (McGrath 53, Healy 13) Healy scuffs herself settled at the crease. Rajeshwari replaces Deepti, wicketless so far. Bowling wide of the crease. The first jumps past Healy’s outside edge. A single from the sweep.
Updated
60th over: Australia 172-3 (McGrath 53, Healy 12) The change of pace the game needs: Renuka bustles in, kicking up red dust in her approach. Healy is wary – five dots then a leg bye off a strangled lbw appeal off the last.
59th over: Australia 171-3 (McGrath 53, Healy 12) Momentary joy for the Indians, as McGrath is given out lbw to Deepti – but she immediately reviews and DRS shows bat before pad. Another maiden.
58th over: Australia 171-3 (McGrath 53, Healy 12) Another maiden from Rajeshwari, prod, prod, prod, wear the Indians out.
57th over: Australia 171-3 (McGrath 53, Healy 12) Slowly, imperceptively, the deficit has dropped to 16. Three singles off Deepti.
56th over: Australia 168-3 (McGrath 52, Healy 10) Rajeshwari, black headband, bouncing pony-tail and matching high-step approach. Healy plays and misses at the first and sweeps upishly to the third. “High-risk low reward,” scolds the commentator.
Updated
55th over: Australia 167-3 (McGrath 52, Healy 9) A Deepti maiden. I’m thinking maybe time for some Vastrakar?
Fifty for Tahlia McGrath!
54th over: Australia 167-3 (McGrath 52, Healy 9) A modest raise of the bat from McGrath, her second fifty of the match, the first at almost a run a ball, the second a more grinding, thorough, match-clinching effort.
Updated
53rd over: Australia 164-3 (McGrath 49, Healy 9) Deepti sends down an over of full deliveries of variable quality.
52nd over: Australia 160-3 (McGrath 48, Healy 6) Rajeshwari continues and Raf gets in contact. Apparently she is writing a Spin piece on the top women players of 2023 for the Guardian on January 2nd so look out for that! But she chastises me for forgetting Sophie Ecclestone – in my head she’d been injured for ages, but turns out my head is not very reliable.
Evening session
51st over: Australia 158-3 (McGrath 47, Healy 5) Been on a tea-break desperate search for the sellotape/ribbon box for one of my son’s to wrap a secret santa present. Just one from Deepti’s over.
Sorry, Stephen, I’ve got time to answer your question now! I think you’re quite right with Deepti, NSB and Ash Gardner. I’d also throw Laura Woolvardt, Hayley Matthews, Tahlia McGrath and Smriti Mandhana into the mix. But I don’t watch as much women’s cricket as I’d like to. I’ll ask Raf – she’s better placed than me! Oh, and also throwing in a distinguished long-service award to Meg Lanning .
Very open to ideas!
Updated
TEA Australia 156-3 trail India by 31 runs
50th over: Australia 156-3 (McGrath 46, Healy 4) Rajeshwari, into the footmarks. Healy beckons McGrath down the pitch to point out something. McGrath cuts, but super fielding by Deepti at point cuts off the run. She cuts again next (short) ball, later, and this time pierces the gap and picks up four. And that, is tea. The session Australia’s, despite the late wicket of Perry.
Updated
49th over: Australia 152-3 (McGrath 42, Healy 4) Deepti rolls up her sleeves and adjusts her trousers; in the ground, chants from what sounds like an enthusiastic group of young girls. Australia playing for the break here.
48th over: Australia 150-3 (McGrath 41, Healy 2) One zips past the outside edge of Healy’s bat as she pushes forward, and rebounds off Yastika’s glove. Rajeshwari whistles through her over. Tricky out there
47th over: Australia 148-3 (McGrath 40, Healy 2) Woman of the moment, Deepti Sharma, takes the ball. Healy chews her gum and surveys the field as Harmanpreet directs this way and that. One from it, with ten minutes till tea.
Updated
46th over: Australia 146-3 (McGrath 39, Healy 1) Rajeshwari suddenly has mischief in her fingers. McGrath starts the over missing a sweep, finishes the over missing a sweep, bringing four byes.
An email drops in to my inbox with a festive jingle. Hello Stephen Nichols!
“Thanks for all your commentary this year - I’ve really enjoyed reading it. I was wondering who you thought were the best 5 women’s cricketers of the year? Ash Gardner has bowled beautifully in a couple of Tests, Nat S-B was immense earlier in the summer, and Deepti Sharma has been deeply annoying to all her opponents - wickets and runs exactly when her team needed them. Who’s on your list?”
“Merry Christmas to you all” Oooh let me think for a couple of overs, and a very happy Christmas to you too.
45th over: Australia 142-3 (McGrath 39, Healy 1) And another maiden as, click by click, the pressure ratchets up
44th over: Australia 142-3 (McGrath 39, Healy 1) Ooof, suddenly, the ball is full of possibilites, Rajeshwari whistles through a maiden.
43rd over: Australia 142-3 (McGrath 39, Healy 1) The end of a fabulous innings, and a crucial 84-run partnership which has ushered the Aussies towards parity.
Updated
WICKET! Perry c Yastika b Rana 45 (Australia 140-3)
From nowhere! Spins, Perry goes back, tries to flick away leg side, but gets a faint edge to the keeper. Joy unconfined from India.
Updated
42nd over: Australia 140-2 (Perry 45, McGrath 38) A birds eye view of the glorious Wankhede, over where the sun seems to be shining, though pollution hovers over the city in the background (the reading “unhealthy “again today.) Rajeshwari – a careful maiden.
Updated
41st over: Australia 140-2 (Perry 45, McGrath 38) Rana once more. McGrath tucks into the loose ball, soft hands, leans back and angles the ball away to the rope. Those two dropped chances earlier in the day hanging in the air like unwelcome air balloons.
40th over: Australia 134-2 (Perry 44, McGrath 33) Sorry, missed most of this over answering the door to the postman.
39th over: Australia 130-2 (Perry 44, McGrath 29) A maiden from Rana! India could do with a succession of those to build some pressure, they need something.
38th over: Australia 130-2 (Perry 44, McGrath 29) India present the ball to the umpire in a dissatisfied way. He puts it through his handcuffs, and it passes the Test – I think…Rajeshwari wheels in. A fabulous stop in the covers by Rana prevents a boundary from the advancing McGrath. She examines her bashed fingers with a sore shake. Rajeshwari ends the over with a beauty that grips and turns. Do drop me a line, whether you’re having a quiet moment by the Christmas tree or toiling away at work, would love to hear from you.
Updated
37th over: Australia 129-2 (Perry 43, McGrath 29) Eight off Jemimah’s over, and this has the feel of Australia unstoppably building their castle, slab by great slab. Perry slams a full toss through extra cover for four.
36th over: Australia 121-2 (Perry 36, McGrath 28) My fifteen year old has just headed off into the smudgy black for his last Saturday paper round of the year. Sparkling sunshine in Mumbai for the first time I can remember this match. Australia looking at ease, Perry magnificent. A change of ends for Gayakwad. A couple of easy singles and a dreadful lbw review from India that pitched outside off. The deficit has crept down to 66.
Updated
35th over: Australia 119-2 (Perry 35, McGrath 27) Thanks Jim, sterling work in the small hours. Time for some Jemimah off spin. A pea roller lands within a few inches of McGrath and bounces twice before almost coming to a standing stop on her pads. The next is dispatched through cover for four.
34th over: Australia 114-2 (Perry 34, McGrath 25) Perry hangs back and works a single to leg. That’s the first hour post lunch done, Australia are hanging in there. Time for me to let go of the OBO reins, Tanya Aldred is here to grasp them and take you through to the close! Goodbye.
33rd over: Australia 113-2 (Perry 33, McGrath 25) Perry and McGrath rotate strike and notch up their fifty partnership. They’ve batted well and frustrated India in this first hour after lunch.
Fifty partnership for Perry & McGrath. Australia's second half-century stand of the match.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) December 23, 2023
Australia 107/2 (30.2) trail by 80.#INDvAUShttps://t.co/UMFFsIogK3
32nd over: Australia 11o-2 (Perry 32, McGrath 23) Rana replaces Deepti Sharma and is greeted with a solid drive for two by Perry. A wristy flick for a single will see her keep strike for the next.
Good morning Guy Hornsby!
“Morning Jim, morning everyone. This is such a gripping Test match. There’s something going on every ball. I hope Australia can set something, but the first innings showed that things can unravel pretty quickly on this surface.”
Yep, its all about partnerships and chipping away. Get to parity and then every run hurts India that little bit more. Will be a belter tomorrow if Australia can bat out the day. Big IF.
Updated
31st over: Australia 1o7-2 (Perry 29, McGrath 23) McGrath starting to find her timing, punching for two into the off side and then going back onto her tiptoes and driving off the back foot for a sublime four!
30th over: Australia 1o1-2 (Perry 29, McGrath 15) Shot! Deepti tosses one up above the eyeline and Perry drives it straight as you like back past the bowler for four. That brings the hundred up for Australia and this partnership between Perry and McGrath inches into the forties.
29th over: Australia 97-2 (Perry 25, McGrath 17) Drop! Tricky chance at slip as McGrath pokes a length ball from Gayakwad, the ball scooches through and the batters pick up a couple. Australia eke their way towards three figures.
28th over: Australia 94-2 (Perry 24, McGrath 15) Deepti looks to stitch together a second maiden in a row but Perry dances down to the last ball and drives compactly for a single. The India lead stands at 93 runs. What would Australia need to post here? Anything over 150 would likely be a very tricky chase for India in the fourth innings with the pitch going up and down. That still feels a long way from here though.
Updated
27th over: Australia 93-2 (Perry 23, McGrath 15) Two balls in a row from Gayakwad die in the surface and basically roll along the floor. McGrath manages to get an under edge on the second and the ball trickles away for four past the keeper. If we do make it into tomorrow then this surface should throw up some fun and games.
26th over: Australia 89-2 (Perry 23, McGrath 11) Deepti and Perry continue their tussle. India know that if they get Ellyse then they likely get the game. The pressure cooker just starting to hiss as the second maiden in a row is notched up.
Two Australian openers run out in a women's Test match:
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) December 23, 2023
v India at Ahmedabad, 1984
v England at Perth, 1984
v England at Hove, 1987
v India at Wankhede, 2023#INDvAUS
Updated
25th over: Australia 89-2 (Perry 23, McGrath 11) Rajeshwari Gayakwad comes into the attack to replace Vasrtrakar. She’s left arm around the wicket with a slip and silly point in place. McGrath is back to being watchful, dot x six = a maiden. No need to show my working.
24th over: Australia 89-2 (Perry 23, McGrath 11) Deepti has her hands on her bead as Perry plays late and flicks a ball in the air behind square for a couple. It looked a bit inside-edgey.
23rd over: Australia 83-2 (Perry 21, McGrath 11) Close! McGrath has a wild hack at a length ball on the off side and us lucky to connect only with fresh air. That would’ve been a nasty way to go. A drive down the ground and a clip into the leg side bring her a couple of twos – seems like she’s decided to put her foot down a little. There you go – a crunching back foot drive sees the ball trace away to the boundary. Eight runs off the over and a near miss.
22nd over: Australia 79-2 (Perry 21, McGrath 3) Deepti spins one back into the pads of McGrath and offers a strangled appeal – it was sliding down. Nice ball though. McGrath shows a deft touch by waiting and dropping the hands on a length ball, pocketing a single behind point on the off side. Australia whittling away at the deficit.
Updated
21st over: Australia 76-2 (Perry 21, McGrath 2) Vastrakar bustles in under bright sunshine, three dots are soaked up before McGrath glides to point for a single and Perry collects two off the last ball with a controlled drive through the covers. The deficit ticks down to 109 runs.
20th over: Australia 75-2 (Perry 19, McGrath 1) Deepti Sharma into the attack and she serves up a high full toss that Perry doesn’t miss out on, whipping it away to the midwicket boundary.
19th over: Australia 71-2 (Perry 15, McGrath 1) Vastrakar from t’other end, she lands it on a hankie. Perry pushes a single into the off side. Mumbai looking a picture. Still pitch black here in London.
Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry are back in the middle at Wankhede Stadium with the Aussies trailing by 122 runs.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 23, 2023
Watch live on Foxtel or Kayo #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/FpRhtSpIRS
18th over: Australia 70-2 (Perry 14, McGrath 1) Australia need Ellyse Perry to come to the party this afternoon… and probably this evening too. She gets going with a delightful cover drive for four.
The players emerge after lunch, Sneh Rana is going to bowl the first over of the afternoon session.
The ultimate brain fade from Beth Mooney.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) December 23, 2023
Even though the Aussies are on the back foot in this match, it’s an engrossing battle.
And I’m sure regardless of the result, it won’t be 40 years until we’re back for the next Test. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/7D8m7mOaub
Lunch: Australia 63-2 (trail India by 124 runs)
17th over: Australia 63-2 (Perry 7, McGrath 1) Deepti sends down a testing maiden, McGrath content to batten down the hatches for lunch. An absorbing morning of cricket, Australia polished off the last three India wickets in good time this morning and were going well at 49-0 when Beth Mooney decided to take an ill advised wander out of her crease. Litchfield fell shortly afterwards and India ramped up the pressure in the run up to the interval. The home side well on top.
Updated
16th over: Australia 63-2 (Perry 7, McGrath 1) Close! Perry defends with hard hands, the ball flicks the inside half of her bat and flies to Richa at short leg who can’t cling on. Tough chance but seen them taken. That would have been a huge scalp for India on the stroke of lunch. Perry gets another edge through the slips and picks up two. It’s all happening.
15th over: Australia 60-2 (Perry 5, McGrath 0) Vastrakar serves up a gift of a full toss and Perry obliges by bunting down the ground for four. Five dots complete the over.
Here’s that Beth Mooney Wicket sponsored by Walkabout…
𝙍𝙐𝙉-𝙊𝙐𝙏! 🎯
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 23, 2023
How about that for game awareness 👌 👌
That was brilliant from Richa Ghosh 🙌 🙌
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/8qTsM8XSpd #TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @13richaghosh | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/c3O3O249DA
Nope, me neither.
14th over: Australia 56-2 (Perry 1, McGrath 0) Tahlia McGrath joins Perry in the middle, two new batters at the crease as Harmanpreet brings Vastrakar back into the attack. She skittled Perry in the first innings remember. Good, aggressive captaincy from the Indian skipper.
WICKET! Phoebe Litchfield b Rana 18 (Australia 56-2)
So much for reaching the safe harbour of lunch unscathed… Litchfield messes up a reverse sweep and chops the ball onto her stumps!
Updated
13th over: Australia 50-1 (Litchfield 13, Perry 0) I’m still so confused by that Mooney wicket, she clearly saw the ball went into Ghosh’s hands at short leg, can’t fathom why she then went for a trot out of her crease. I’ll find a clip so you can help me out. Litchfield clips a single to bring up the Australia 50.
WICKET! Beth Mooney run out (Ghosh) 33 (Australia 49-1)
Loud appeal from Rana and her teammates but the ball was sliding down past the stumps and India know it, sagely choosing not to review. GONE NOW THOUGH! What a bizarre dismissal it is too! Rana appeals for another LBW, in the process of which Mooney wanders out of her crease and Richa Ghosh throws down the stumps from short leg. Brain fade from Beth Mooney who walks straight off. India have the breakthrough!
12th over: Australia 49-1 (Litchfield 12, Perry 0)
Updated
11th over: Australia 43-0 (Mooney 27, Litchfield 12) Deepti Sharma replaces Renuka so it’ll be spin form both ends as lunch looms on the horizon. Can Australia make it there unscathed, they’ll breathe a bit easier if they do. The deficit is still a chunky 144 runs after Litchfield dances down and lofts over the infield for a couple.
10th over: Australia 41-0 (Mooney 27, Litchfield 10) Rana twirls away after drinks, can she find that devilish spot from the over before? A tidy over is defended well by Litchfield who is rewarded with three off the last ball to a measured straight drive down the ground.
9th over: Australia 38-0 (Mooney 27, Litchfield 7) Mooney opens the face to glide a length ball from Renuka wide of point for four. Time for a drink, big fat shot of Kenco for me. Something less sludgy for the players no doubt.
8th over: Australia 34-0 (Mooney 23, Litchfield 7) Sneh Rana into the attack to replace Vastrakar, Australia can pat themselves on the back that they’ve seen off the in form pacer’s first spell. Mooney sweeps a full toss for four behind leg. That was a loopy loosener. My days! The next ball dies in the surface and near enough rolls along the floor. You don’t want to get one of those straight on the stumps, if you’re a batter that is. Shades of Nasser Hussain pea rolled by Carl Hooper.
Play that!
Updated
7th over: Australia 27-0 (Mooney 18, Litchfield 5) Careful… Litchfield drives uppishly, the ball reaches mid off on the bounce. Australia can’t afford to gift any wickets here, the pitch looks benign and good for batting. They have to make India toil for a day in the dirt if they are going to get anything at all out of this game. Close! Renuka gets one to hoop back and it evades both the stumps and Bhatia stood up to the stumps. Four byes to the total.
6th over: Australia 23-0 (Mooney 18, Litchfield 5) Vastrakar angles one past Litchfield and beats the outside edge. Litchfield plays two delicious drives but both skid along the turf straight to the fielders in the covers. A nudge down the ground gets her a scampered single. Shot! Mooney swivels a short ball fine for four.
5th over: Australia 18-0 (Mooney 14, Litchfield 4) Mooney looks solid, keeping a probing Renuka at bay. Shed does miss out on a full toss though, scything straight to the fielder in the covers. Maiden over.
Please. Behave. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/i2NTMeCXSe
— australian womens cricket with very little context (@awcwvlc) December 23, 2023
4th over: Australia 18-0 (Mooney 14, Litchfield 4) Vastrakar stitches together five dots to keep Litchfield sitting on a pair after her diamond duck run out in the first innings… that’ll do! A well timed clip into the leg side brings Litchfield four and her first runs in the Test match. Pair be gone!
3rd over: Australia 14-0 (Mooney 14, Litchfield 0) Renuka is around the wicket and zoning in on Mooney’s front pad. Mooney is watchful but cashes in on a full toss, driving away in a controlled fashion to pick up her third boundary.
2nd over: Australia 10-0 (Mooney 10, Litchfield 0) Here comes Vastrakar, she’s been devastating in her opening spells of late. She goes full in search of movement and the stumps, Mooney greets it with a flowing blade - the ball skimming through the covers for four. Shot! Another half volley served up by Vastrakar and Mooney punches down the ground in style!
Updated
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Mooney 1, Litchfield 0) Renuka Singh to start the with the shiny new orb, a hint of movement off the pitch. Two slips and a gully in place. Mooney works to leg to open the account on the Aus second innings.
No time for a second coffee of the wee small hours at this end. Here come the players after a rapid turnaround. Mooney and Litchfield to open up for Australia, they’ll be hoping for a better start than they had in the first innings… Litchfield particularly.
India all out for 406 - a lead of 187 runs
Polished off! Renuka Singh looked very uncomfortable against the short stuff and sure enough she plinks a simple catch to Ash Gardner off another bumper from Sutherland.
Over to Australia to bat themselves back into this game, it’s going to take something special from here. Shout out to Ash Gardner who picked up four wickets in the innings and got through an impressive 41 overs of graft.
Ashleigh Gardner is a queen! There's a LinkedIn type life lesson there in her showing yesterday. #INDvAUS | #WomensCricket pic.twitter.com/gXJ8jDOVGG
— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻💻 (@lav_narayanan) December 23, 2023
Updated
WICKET! Deepti Sharma b Garth 78 (India 402-9)
Garth loses her radar and spears one down the leg side that Healy does well to get a glove on stood up to the stumps, four byes narrowly avoided. That’s better! A full ball scuds through Sharma as the batter looks to work to leg, stumps splayed and a fantastic knock from Deepti comes to a close. Australia picking up two quick wickets this morning, wicket maiden for Garth. Rajeshwari Gayakwad is India’s last batter.
126th over: India 402-8 (Renuka 4, Gayakwad 0)
Updated
125th over: India 402-8 (Deepti 78, Renuka 4) Sutherland is resolutely whanging the ball into the middle of the wicket, Australia going with some fire and brimstone on the morning of day three. Deepti gets inside the line and paddles away for a single. Eeesht! Renuka gets a top edge for four with a highly unconvincing pull shot but the end result is 400 up for India.
This is going to be the most joyous boundary of the day for India 🇮🇳
— Asli BCCI Women (@AsliBCCIWomen) December 23, 2023
Renuka Rules ! 🤣#CricketTwitter #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/7rtxL1n0tz
Updated
124th over: India 397-8 (Deepti 77, Renuka 0) Garth, fresh off pouching the catch to remove Vastrakar, wheels in again under fiery Mumbai sunshine. Renuka Singh is the new batter for India. Deepti inches closer to the milestone of three figures with a single through the covers.
WICKET! Vastrakar c Garth b Sutherland 47 (India 396-8)
Shot! Sutherland digs in another short ball and Vastrakar greets it with a swivel-pull that skims away for four behind square. Short again, Vastrakar tries the same thing but the ball gets big on her and she top edges over Healy behind the stumps for another boundary… GONE this time! Third short ball in a row and Vastrakar guides into the hands of Garth at square leg. The plan works, eventually, for Australia.
123rd over: India 396-8 (Deepti 75, Renuka 0)
Updated
122nd over: India 387-7 (Deepti 75, Vastrakar 39) Garth serves up a juicy full bunger on leg stump, Deepti misses out on the boundary as Ellyse Perry pulls off a nifty dive at wide mid on. A couple of well judged singles follow, India continuing on their merry way so far this morning.
121st over: India 384-7 (Deepti 73, Vastrakar 38) Annabel Sutherland starts at the other end and she’s bending her back and testing out the middle of the pitch. Vastrakar and Deepti rotate strike to take three singles off it.
120th over: India 381-7 (Deepti 71, Vastrakar 37) Garth chugs in for the first one of the day, three dots before Deepti shuffles across and clips for one to get herself a single. A slip and gully in place for Australia, Vastrakar gets a meaty edge off a length ball and it runs away wide of slip for four runs. Still looks a belting pitch to bat on at the Wankhede.
Here we go then, Kim Garth has the ball in hand for Australia, quick wickets the order of the day for the visitors and then a day of batting. India will have other ideas, particularly Deepti and Vastrakar who played so well last evening. Bright and sunny in Mumbai, dark and quiet here in London. Let’s play!
The players are readying on the boundary edge in Mumbai, time to make a quick (and strong) coffee and we’ll be underway in just over five minutes.
Updated
Day three will be underway in about 20 minutes time. Is there a way back into this match for Australia?
The story behind 'Wrong Sisters' 😉
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 23, 2023
A vital @mandhana_smriti message to @13richaghosh via @JemiRodrigues ☺️
All this & more as we head into Day 3 action with this chat 👌 👌 - By @ameyatilak
Full Interview 🎥 🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @IDFCFIRSTBankhttps://t.co/A02MDsem2K pic.twitter.com/HM69HmBT9g
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the day three OBO of India v Australia at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, to say Australia have it all to do is an understatement. India dominated proceedings on day two, accumulating their way to 376-7 to put themselves well and truly in command, a lead of 157 runs on first innings with three wickets still to burn.
The final session in particular was a killer for Alyssa Healy’s side, as Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar kept the visitors at bay for the entirety, stretching the lead by 100 runs and batting the Aussies into the red Mumbai dust. Will day three bare witness to a dramatic turnaround or will it be more of the same? We’ll find out soon enough.
Play gets underway at 9.30am local time, 3.30pm AEDT and 4am UK time. Join us…
