NEW DELHI: The Indian women's team on Sunday created history, securing their maiden victory against Australia Women in the one-off Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Harmanpreet Kaur
and co. pulled off a dominating eight-wicket triumph -- their first-ever win over the Aussies in the longest format of the game.
Taking charge with a substantial first-innings lead of 187, India found themselves needing a mere 75 runs to seal the match after dismissing Australia for 261 in their second innings.
Although losing early wickets of Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh, India steadied their chase as Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with an unbeaten 38. Her decisive boundary shortly after the lunch break sealed India's win.
As India celebrated their historic triumph, a surprise awaited as
Australia captain Alyssa Healy
turned photographer, capturing moments of the victorious Indian team with the trophy.
When asked about the gesture, Healy, in the post match conference, said: "It wasn’t my camera. It was just that they were pushing the cameramen back, so I thought I’d get one of them an opportunity to get up there, nice and close. I actually cut out half of the Indian team by accident so I don’t think they’d be using that one."
WATCH:
India had beaten England by 347 runs - the highest victory margin in terms of runs in women's Test cricket - in a one-off Test in Navi Mumbai earlier this month.
"It's the reward for all the hard work we have done for so many years," Kaur said after India's first victory against Australia in 11 tests since the teams first clashed in the longest format in 1977.
"Hopefully after these two wins, we will get to play many more test matches in the upcoming years."