Jhulan Goswami strikes to jangle Australia nerves

Gold Coast, October 2

Indian women dictated terms to the mighty Australia, who did everything they could to survive the difficult overs under lights and finish the third day of the rain-marred Day/Night Test at 143/4 at Carrara Oval here today.

At stumps, Australia trailed the visitors by 234 runs after veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami (2/27) bowled beautifully to leave them at 63/2 at tea.

India had declared their first innings at 377/8.

Mithali Raj’s side was lucky as umpire Claire Polosak gave Australian captain Meg Lanning (38) out incorrectly, raising her finger despite an inside edge and bringing to an end her ominous stay in the middle. Pooja Vastrakar, who has figures of 2/31, was the lucky bowler.

The dismissal of Lanning raised questions about the absence of DRS, which was supposed to be part of the game eventually it was not.

After Tahlia McGrath (28) hit a wide and short delivery from Vastrakar straight to Smriti Mandhana at point to leave the hosts at 119/4, Jhulan was brought back with two slips, a gully and a silly mid-off, but Ellyse Perry (27 batting) and Ashleigh Gardner (13 batting) survived.

Their (Indian pacers) consistency has surprised me and has been impressive. Jhulan has gotten the better of me quite a few times. She’s a world class bowler and has been throughout her career. Alyssa Healy, Australia batter

There was a fair bit of dew on the field, and that obviously did not help the India bowlers, who managed to keep things tight for a major part of the Australian innings. India got the timing of their declaration right since batting against the pink ball is considered most difficult in the second session in a Day/Night Test, due to transition from natural to artificial light.

Recovery

However, Australia recovered nicely after losing Beth Mooney early as the duo of Alyssa Healy (29) and skipper Lanning not only steadied the ship but also played some exquisite shots.

But shortly before the break, Jhulan delivered for the visitors with some magnificent bowling. After softening Healy with a few short balls, Jhulan bowled a length ball, got it to move just enough for the batter to nick it into the hands of wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia. This was after the 38-year-old Jhulan had cleaned up Mooney’s stumps with one that came back at the left-handed opener, who was trying to flick it to the leg-side.

Deepti’s 66

Earlier in the day, India dug in deep, instead of going for quick runs, to reach 359/7 at dinner.

For the visitors, Deepti Sharma made a fine 66, finishing as the team’s second-best scorer, a day after opener Smriti Mandhana’s magnificent maiden hundred in the format.

Resuming at their overnight score of 276/5 after rain and lightning had brought a premature end to the second day’s play, the Indians made 83 runs for the loss of Taniya Bhatia and Pooja Vastrakar in the long first session. — PTI

Largest scores by tourists on Australian soil

377/8d — India at Carrara, 2021

335 — New Zealand at Melbourne, 1972

325 – England at Adelaide, 1958

301/5d – England at Sydney, 1935