Nicole Bolton, Australian spinners crush India women in Vadodara

Opener Nicole Bolton struck an unbeaten 100 off 101 balls after the Australian spinners bamboozled the Indian batting to set up a crushing eight-wicket win in the opening game of the three-match ODI series, which is part of the ICC Women's Championship. Bolton's fourth ODI hundred ensured Australia reached a modest 201-run target in just 32.1 overs.

India would have been bowled out for far less but for the 76-run stand between Sushma Verma (41) and Pooja Vastrakar (51) for the eighth wicket, helping them muster 200 in 50 overs. Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen led a stellar show from the Australian spinners, taking four wickets for 30 runs in 10 overs. Leggie Amanda-Jade Wellington picked up three wickets and Ashleigh Gardner removed opener Smriti Mandhana (12).

Megan Schutt accounted for Harmanpreet Kaur (9). It was a sweet result for the visitors, who had lost to India in the World Cup semi-finals last year. The second ODI will be played at the same venue on Thursday. India were dealt a big blow even before the start of the game with captain Mithali Raj ruled out due to illness. Stand-in skipper Kaur said the team needs to put up a better effort in all three departments.


"It was a hard day for us. We didn't play good cricket and didn't deserve to win. She (Mithali Raj) is an important player for us," said Kaur. "But happy that the lower middle-order batted well. We didn't have enough on the board and then we didn't bowl according to the field. She (Vastrakar) played very well in South Africa and she showed her character (yesterday) as well." This was the 18-year-old Vastrakar's maiden fifty, and she hit seven boundaries and a six, while Verma found the fence three times during her 71-ball innings.