Seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy delivered her career-best performance with figures of 4-22, helping India secure a 21-run victory over Australia in the opening game of the multi-format series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India, chasing 134, reached 50/1 in 5.1 overs before rain interrupted play. Due to the persistent showers, the match was called off, and India was declared the winner, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
Arundhati’s exceptional bowling display restricted Australia to 133 all out in 18 overs. Georgia Wareham top-scored with 30 runs off 19 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry showed promise but failed to convert their starts into significant scores. The Australian innings stumbled after a 41-run partnership between Ellyse and Phoebe, leading to a collapse where they lost five wickets for just 12 runs, allowing India to dominate the match.
In the chase, Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana provided a quick start, putting on 50 runs in a little over five overs. Despite Shafali’s dismissal for 21 off 11 balls, India remained ahead on the DLS method calculations when rain intervened, securing the win. The match also marked Australia’s first T20I under new captain Sophie, who took over the role in January.
Australia made several changes for the game, leaving out vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, and Grace Harris, while Nicola Carey, who scored 12 off as many balls, was brought back. Annabel Sutherland, despite winning the Belinda Clark Award, batted at number eight and could only manage three runs before being dismissed. The teams will now head to Canberra for the second T20I at the Manuka Oval on Thursday.
