Aussies claim series opener over India

The result: India 5-152 (Mandhana 67, Patil 35, Gardner 2-22) lost to Australia 4-156 (Mooney 45, Villani 39; Goswami 3-30) by six wickets with 11 balls to spare

The match in a tweet: Australia win! A superb bowling effort from Ashleigh Gardner and a clinical chase sees Australia take the first points of the T20I tri-series

The hero: Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner was superb with the ball, taking 2-22 from her four overs including one maiden. She found the much-needed first breakthrough, piling pressure on Mithali Raj (18) before beating the bat of the veteran in the 10th, Alyssa Healy doing the rest of the work to end a 72-run opening stand. Then, as Australia searched for a way to stop Mandhana’s opening assault, it was Gardner who finally got the better of the India star in the 14th over, drawing the false shot as debutant Sophie Molineux did the rest. That wicket triggered a mini-collapse of 3-1 as an Ellyse Perry double strike removed Jemimah Rodrigues (1) and Harmanpreet Kaur (13) in the space of three balls, as India quickly went from 1-99 to 4-100 in the space of seven deliveries.

With the bat, Gardner struck three early boundaries and looked ominous but was defeated by the brilliant of India spearhead Jhulan Goswami, out for 15 (8).

The support acts: Australia’s deep batting line-up was evident during a clinical chase. After two huge blows from India pace spearhead Jhulan Goswami removed Alyssa Healy (4) and Ashleigh Gardner (15) inside the first three overs, Beth Mooney and Elyse Villani’s partnership didn’t get off to the smoothest start with a couple of close run-out calls. But both managed to stay well above the required run rate as they found their feet, Mooney carrying on her speedy scoring from the one-dayers as she struck a 32-ball 45, while Villani settled into her first innings since arriving in India to post 39 (33). Their dismissals in the space of seven balls left Australia with new batters at the crease coming into the final five overs of the chase, but if India sensed an opening it was quickly snuffed out thanks to a rapid-fire 35 (25) from skipper Meg Lanning in her first T20I knock since shoulder surgery.

The consolation effort: Powerful India opener Smriti Mandhana continued her outstanding form from the ODI series, looking all class as she raced to a half-century from just 30 deliveries – reaching the milestone with a six from Ellyse Perry. She shared a 72-run opening stand with captain Raj, who couldn’t find the same rhythm before being stumped off the bowling of Ashleigh Gardner on 18 (27). But the tourists struggled to find a way to contain the in-form Mandhana, who found the boundary at ease whether along the ground on the lightning fast outfield, or going over the top as she passed her previous T20I high score of 57, eventually falling to the off-spin of Ashleigh Gardner for 67 (41).

The comeback: India pace legend Jhulan Goswami returned with a bang after missing the ODIs due to a bruised heel. Hit for two boundaries in her first over, the 35-year-old hit back with her sixth delivery, bowling dangerous opener Alyssa Healy (4) and repeated the treatment in her second over, knocking over Ashleigh Gardner for 15 (8). Goswami was thrown the ball again in search of a way to break the Beth Mooney-Elyse Villani partnership and again she produced the goods, removing Mooney for 45 to finish with 3-30.

The debut: Victoria allrounder Sophie Molineux was presented with T20I cap No.48 before play, with assistant coach and legendary allrounder Shelley Nitschke performing the honours for her fellow exponent of left-arm spin. Molineux went wicketless from her two overs with figures of 0-15, but took two excellent catches.

The stat: Australia equaled their highest successful T20I run chase, having previously run down 153 twice before, against England in 2005 and 2011.

The next stop: Australia are back in action in less than 24 hours, when they’ll take on England in the second match of the tri-series. Play begins at 10am local (3.30pm AEDT) with the match to be broadcast live on Fox Sports with scores on cricket.com.au. For India, their next opponent is England on Sunday.