Megan Schutt’s ODI best and a bright Georgia Voll debut have sunk India to a 12-year low in a one-sided series opener in Brisbane. The visitors lost six for 11 and made just 100 after opting to bat first at Allan Border Field on Thursday afternoon, their lowest total in the 50-over format since 2012.
A maiden five-wicket haul by Schutt (five for 19) powered the hosts, before debutant Voll’s unbeaten 46 off 42 balls ensured they reached the target inside 17 overs with five wickets in hand.
It could have been even uglier for the tourists, who took three for two after Phoebe Litchfield (35 off 29) had taken on the new ball. The left-handed Litchfield enjoyed an early slice of luck but quickly hit top gear, peppering backward point with a series of square drives.
Australia had motored to 48 inside seven overs before Litchfield departed, Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney both then out for one as the hosts lost three for four.
Voll had started with authority, pasting her first ball in international cricket off the back foot through cover to the boundary. The 21-year-old watched the mini collapse from the other end and held her nerve in an encouraging start as the injured Alyssa Healy’s top-order replacement.
Tight early overs from Kim Garth (one for 20) and Schutt quickly led to wickets, Smriti Mandhana’s edged cut shot just carrying to wicketkeeper Beth Mooney, and Priya Punia skying a reckless slog attempt after she had mustered just three runs from 17 balls.
Off-spinner Gardner didn’t offer any respite, Annabel Sutherland reaching to snaffle a catch that ended a Harleen Deol innings that had shown fleeting promise. Sutherland then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur in front of her stumps as India went nearly 10 overs without a boundary.
Mooney’s move up to the stumps spooked Jemimah Rodrigues (23 off 42), who was clean-bowled by Garth. Georgia Wareham reduced the tourists to six for 92 with a direct-hit run-out from the boundary that caught Deepti Sharma marginally short.
after newsletter promotion
Litchfield took a sharp catch at short cover to continue Australia’s fielding masterclass. Schutt’s stump-to-stump bowling then proved too much for the Indian tail as they lost four for three.
Game two of the series is in Brisbane on Sunday, before they move to Perth.
