India Women beat Australia women by 8 wickets at Wankhede to win back to back test matches against two giants of women’s cricket 

In a thrilling match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, India women cricket team achieved a momentous feat on Sunday, securing their first-ever victory against Australia in a Test match. This historic eight-wicket win marks a significant milestone in Indian women’s cricket history.

Dominating from the start, India women built a commanding first-innings lead of 187 runs, putting them in a strong position. Australia’s second innings stumbled after resuming at 233-5, with India’s bowlers claiming the final five wickets for just 28 runs.

Standout performances from Sneh Rana, who bagged Player of the Match honors with a seven-wicket haul, and Pooja Vastrakar, who trapped Ash Gardner lbw, were instrumental in Australia’s collapse.

Chasing a modest target of 75 runs, India lost early wickets but Smriti Mandhana’s anchoring innings of 38 runs steered them towards victory. A celebratory four shortly after the lunch break sealed the historic win, sending the Indian players and fans into jubilation.

It was challenging for Australia, as evidenced by their playing style. Two unnecessary run-outs and several wild shots on a pitch where the spinners ruled supreme left Australia struggling all day.

Coming into the fourth day, Australia held a 47-run lead and had five wickets in hand. However, their fortunes reversed dramatically on the fourth morning. Their score tumbled from 233 for 5 to a disappointing 261 all out in quick succession.

While the Indian spinners had kept the Australian batters on a string, Australia’s own spinners proved largely ineffective on the same track. This stark contrast highlights Australia’s failure to read the conditions accurately.

It was an all-round team effort from India. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, beaming with pride, credited the win to the team’s dedication and hard work, spanning years of effort.

“It’s the reward for all the hard work we have done for so many years. Hopefully after these two wins, we will get to play many more test matches in the upcoming years,” Harmanpreet Kaur said after the match.

Australia captain Alyssa Healy acknowledged the challenging conditions in India and congratulated their opponents on the well-deserved win. She echoed Kaur’s desire for more Test matches, highlighting the need for increased competition in the longest format.

With this historic victory, India’s women’s cricket team has not only etched their names in the record books but also ignited a renewed passion for Test cricket in the country.

The upcoming series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is promises further excitement as both teams continue to push boundaries.