India-A sealed a massive 281-run win over Australia-A in the one-off unofficial Test to finish the multi-format series on a high at the I. S. Bindra Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali on Thursday. Vaishnavi Sharma’s imperious run with the ball, which saw her claim a nine-wicket match haul, and Nikki Prasad’s all-round brilliance helped the host underline its dominance in the multi-day red ball fixture.
The host managed to inflate its overnight score of 134/2 to 257.
Tejal Hasabnis was the first to fall when play resumed, lasting for just four deliveries without getting off the mark.
Skipper Yastika Bhatia fell four short of a half century while to Lilly Mills.Anushka Sharma anchored the Indian innings with a 91-ball 48, which helped India get past the 250 mark. Vaishnavi also chipped in with a useful 14-ball 24 to ultimately set Australia a 445-run target to secure a win in the game.
Australia A made a positive start through Rachel Trenaman and Tahlia Wilson, who stitched a 51-run opening stand. However, Nikki and Vaishnavi triggered a collapse, with the visitors struggling at 56/5. Australia’s lone fightback was waged by Tess Flintoff and Mills who put together a 74-run ninth-wicket partnership.
Nikki’s five-wicket haul set up an early wind-up of the Aussie innings to hand the host a thumping victory. She was adjudged the Player of the Match for her seven-wicket match haul and 91-run knock in the first innings.
