India Falters, Australia’s Swing Duo Dominate Test

Australia’s pacers overwhelm India; Rodrigues’ fifty not enough.

Jemimah Rodrigues clung to a gritty 52, but the rest of the Indian lineup never got a chance to chase the swing that Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and rookie Lucy Hamilton were cranking up.

When the lights went down for the first day‑night Test on Friday, India sputtered to 198 all out.

Rodrigues (52 off 84 balls) looked comfortable, but she was practically batting solo.

Swing Party Down Under

Australia chose to bowl, and it paid off big time. Sutherland snatched 4‑46 while Hamilton ripped out 3‑31, both dancing around the edge of the off‑stump and coaxing uncomfortable edges.

Hamilton opened the damage early, bowing Smriti Mandhana on the sixth over with a peach‑shaped delivery that clipped the left‑hander’s pads.

Shafali Verma (35) was looking set for more, but Sutherland’s just‑right movement snagged her edge, letting Beth Mooney swoop in for the catch.

Indian Collapse

Debutant Pratika Rawal (18), skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (19) and Deepti Sharma (7) fell cheaply, leaving India at 107‑5.

A steadier partnership blossomed between Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh (11 off 41 balls), adding 43 runs for the sixth wicket and nudging the total to 150.

Their stand didn’t last long; Hamilton and Ash Gardner ripped both wickets in the same over, plunging India to 150‑7.

The two remaining debutants, Kashvee Gautam (34 not out) and Sayali Satghare (7 off 35), stitched a 38‑run tail that pushed India close to the 200‑run mark.

Satghare then turned the tables, delivering a wickedly swinging ball that beat Australian opener Georgia Voll (2) and rattled her leg‑stump.

India managed to nick edges off the fringe—Phoebe Litchfield (9) and captain Alyssa Healy (13, playing her final Aussie Test) fell, leaving Australia at 58‑3.
But Ellyse Perry (43) and Sutherland (20) steadied the ship, taking the night without further drama.

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