Gold Coast rain wins again but India still in series
Not only did rain prevent India from pushing home their advantage in the Test match on the Gold Coast, it has now conspired to end a Twenty20 contest that looked to be shaping as a testy chase for Australia.
After 15.2 overs at Metricon Stadium, the tourists were handily placed at 4-131 with Jemimah Rodrigues (49 not out) in control of proceedings in her first appearance of the series, having starred for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred in the UK.
Tayla Vlaeminckâs pace made for an eventful start on the Gold Coast before rain arrivedCredit:Getty Images
Vaunted as the fastest bowler in the womenâs game, Tayla Vlaeminckâs first appearance was suitably eventful, despite not finishing her spell with a wicket. She again showed a capacity to shake up the Indian top order, not least Shafali Verma.
However, most of the rest of the Australian attack were subjected to considerable punishment, as Indiaâs batters played with freedom to clatter some 17 boundaries and three sixes. Even though they did not end the night as winners, a point each meant that India are still a chance of winning the series, should they scoop the last two games.
After three debutants in the Test match, Australia had two more in the T20 format: Hannah Darlington, who in the ODI series joined Ash Gardner and Aunty Faith Thomas as Aboriginal women to turn out for the national team, and Tahlia McGrath.
Vlaeminckâs entry to the series, after being carefully built up over the past few weeks, was as eventful as pace should be. A first-up short delivery was a big no ball, and when Shafali came on strike she backed away and hammered Vlaeminck over point for six.
A capricious speed gun claimed to have Vlaeminck bowling a couple of deliveries at 145km/h, with more accurate readings closer to 125. Either way, the cricket was high octane, as India raced to 55 from the Powerplay despite the loss of three wickets.
Not for the first time, the captain Meg Lanning seemed to be pulled in opposite directions by the sheer number of bowling options at her disposal.
While Vlaeminckâs four overs went for a respectable 32, Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham had bowled only 15 balls between them for the cost of six runs, while all others went for at least 8.5 an over. As if to remind the world she still has plenty of pace, Perryâs first ball was clocked at 125.3km/h.
As Rodrigues timed the ball with exceptional sweetness and found a willing ally in the wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, India were on track for a sizeable tally before the subtropical showers arrived once again to cause a delay that ended the innings.
Initially, the rain appeared to be gentle enough for a resumption. But after about half an hour it got steadily heavier, gradually running down the clock towards the 9.06pm local cut-off time for a minimum five-over Australian innings.
So it was that rain, rather than the T20 format the Australians know so well, scotched Indiaâs momentum. They will need to win each of the final two games of the series, on Saturday and Sunday, in order to snatch it from Australiaâs grasp.
Daniel Brettig is The Age's chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via Twitter.
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