The Indian team beat defending champions Australia by 17 runs in the opening match of T20 WC at the Sydney Showground on Friday evening.
Led by an inspired performance by leg spinner Poonam Yadav, the Indian team managed to defend 132 runs by stopping the hosts at 115.
Poonam Yadav, who missed a hat-trick yet again, sent four Australian batswomen back to the pavilion for merely 19 runs in her four overs spell.
Pacer Shikha Pandey finished the job by taking the wicket of Ashleigh Gardener in the last over.
India, batting first after losing the toss, scored 132 runs for four wickets with the help of Deepti Sharma’s not out 49 (46) and Shafali Verma’s 29 (15).
However, the spinners won the match for India.
Australia started well with a 32 runs partnership in five overs for the first wicket. But the middle order could not face the Indian spinners.
Full credit to Poonam Yadav
Alyssa Haley, who scored the only half-century of the match, gave full credit to Poonam Yadav.
In the post-match press conference, Ms Haley said, “Poonam Yadav bowled quite cleverly tonight. We obviously prepared for her but didn’t play her very well tonight, and sort of lost our way in the middle.”
Poonam Yadav was on a hat-trick in the 12th over but missed it when the wicketkeeper dropped the catch. She was disappointed as it was the third time she missed a hat-trick.
She said, “I am a little disappointed, but I am happy that my bowling worked for the team, and we won the match.”
Indian flags and supporters at Sydney Showground
Almost 14,000 people turned out to watch the opening match of the world cup, which started with a spectacular opening ceremony.
The stadium was scattered with Indian flags and supporters.
