Blackwell’s century helps Aussie eves win the first ODI against India: A 112-ball 114 runs studded with 12 hits to the fence by the all-rounder Alex Blackwell and her 180-run third wicket partnership in 31.3 overs alongwith Ellyse Perry (90), enabled Australia to put up a mammoth total of 276 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
Winning the toss, and electing to bat, the Aussie women started badly losing Nicole Bolton (1) in the last delivery of the third over of the innings, when the Indian all-rounder, Jhulan Goswami had her caught by the Indian skipper, Mithali Raj.
Later followed a 39-run second-wicket partnership between Aussie skipper, Meg Lanning (43) and Perry that took the team’s tally to 63 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 14 overs, when Lanning departed.
The third-wicket stand defined the innings and helped them to put a stiff target for the Indians.
Perry’s half-century came in 74 deliveries with 6 fours and 1 six while Blackwell got to her half-century mark in 56 deliveries with seven fours. Her century came in 102 deliveries with 10 hits to the fence. This was her third ODI century in her 104th innings.
Indian medium pacer, Shikha Pandey was the most successful bowler, picking up 3 wickets in her spell of 10 overs giving away 32 runs while Jhulan Goswami and the left-arm spinner, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, picked up one wicket each.
Chasing 277 runs the Indian women were never in a moment of comfort. They failed to stand up to the fury of the Aussie pacer, Ellyse Perry, who went on to claim the wickets of Poonam Raut (10), Harmanpreet Kaur (42), Shikha Pandey (13) and Jhulan Goswami (25). She gave away only 45 runs in her spell of 10 overs. Perry was also involved in ‘running out’ Thirish Kamini (10).
None of the Indian batswoman, except Kaur, could play a meaningful innings and no useful partnerships developed.
The Indian innings folded up with 175 runs on the board in 46.5 overs.
For her overall performance with the bat and the ball, Ellyse Perry was awarded the Player of the Match.
Aussie eves went up 1-0 in the three-match series.
The two teams lock horns for the second encounter on 5th February, 2016, at Hobart.