Mani and Peterson shine as the ball controls play, before Darke extends the lead.
India A faced a morning collapse but mounted a comeback as offspinner Minnu Mani continued to impress. Australia A scored 212 and 164 for 7 (Darke 54*, de Broughe 58, Mani 5-47) and lead India A, who made 184 (Peterson 5-16), by 192 runs.
On the second day of the match between Australia A and India A on the Gold Coast, the ball dominated play. Minnu Mani took her match tally to 10 wickets after Kate Peterson’s five-wicket haul had given the hosts a slender first-innings lead. Maddy Darke’s unbeaten 54, however, ensured that Australia A set a challenging target.
Australia A's Darke Extends Lead Despite Mani's Five-Wicket Haul
Australia A, having gained a 28-run lead, lost two wickets without adding a run in their second innings. Minnu Mani struck in consecutive overs to dismiss Georgia Voll and Charli Knott—caught at slip and deep midwicket, respectively—taking out the first four batters to fall. Nicole Faltum was caught behind, and Tess Flintoff was bowled by a big-spinning offbreak that zipped between bat and pad.
Despite Mani’s impressive performance, Maddy Darke contributed an unbeaten half-century to extend the lead towards 200. She added 54 for the sixth wicket with Maitlan Brown before becoming Mani’s tenth victim, smartly caught off the face of the bat at short leg.
De Broughe's Half-Century Highlights Australia A's Challenge
Emma de Broughe displayed resilience and skill to score a half-century in challenging conditions against India A’s spinners. Her innings was cut short when she was given out caught behind off legspinner Priya Mishra, although de Broughe appeared doubtful about the decision.
Earlier in the day, India A resumed their innings at 100 for 2 but soon found themselves in trouble as Kate Peterson dismantled the middle order. Peterson’s first wicket came with a delivery that moved late, removing Tejal Hasabnis’ off stump. She followed this up with a delivery that swung away, resulting in the dismissal of opener Shweta Sehrawat, who was caught behind.
Peterson's Hat-Trick Bid Highlights India A's Struggles
Kate Peterson came close to achieving a hat-trick when Sajana Sajeevan, facing a full toss, managed only a leading edge that looped up into the off side. Although Uma Chetry survived the next delivery, she was soon dismissed by Peterson, edging a glance off the keeper to slip.
India A’s collapse worsened to 5 for 27 when Raghvi Bist was run out. Despite this, some crucial lower-order contributions helped them make a push towards Australia A’s total.
Conclusion
In a gripping contest, Australia A’s dominant performance, particularly from Kate Peterson and Maddy Darke, has set a challenging target for India A. Peterson’s incisive bowling dismantled India A’s middle order, putting them on the back foot, while Darke’s unbeaten half-century provided a solid foundation for Australia A’s lead. Despite a valiant effort by Emma de Broughe and a near hat-trick by Peterson, India A struggled to maintain their footing, culminating in a significant deficit.
However, India A showed resilience with crucial lower-order contributions that narrowed the gap. As the match progresses, the key will be whether India A can overcome the daunting target set by Australia A and if their bowlers can rise to the occasion to make a game of it. The final session promises to be crucial in determining the outcome of this intense encounter.