Just as Jemimah Rodrigues' blazing, unbeaten 49 (36b, 7x4) had filled the air with the excitement of something special in store, the opening women's T20I between India and Australia at the Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast on Thursday night was washed out by persistent rain.
Asked to take strike first, India, propped up by their fearless approach and Jemimah's entertaining strokeplay, had raced to 131 for four in 15.2 overs before the weather forced the match to be abandoned.
If there's some consolation for cricket lovers, it is that the weather forecast for Carrara on Saturday, when the second game of the series will be played, is good, with no chance of rain. The cavalier fashion in which India batted, it seemed that their players were keen for a hit out before participating in the Women's Big Bash League, which is supposed to kick off next Thursday.
Despite coming to the Australian tour on the back of solid performances in The Hundred -she scored 249 runs with three fifties and a highest score of 92 not out in the tournament - Jemimah had failed to find a spot in the XI in either the ODIs or the Tests. A poor show during the England tour had been a huge setback, but on Thursday, the 21-year-old-given a go to bat at No 3 by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur- showed what she can do.
The Mumbaikar used the late cut to good effect, garnering plenty of boundaries in the third man area. Welcoming debutant Hannah Darlington to T20I cricket in style, she smashed two fours off the pacer's first three balls in the mid off region to show she meant business.
Earlier, Shafali Verma, who smashed three sixes in her 14-ball 18, Smriti Mandhana (17, 10b, 2x4, 1x6) and the fit again Harmanpreet (12, 5b, 3x4) all threatened to explode and take the game away from the Aussies before getting dismissed. Mandhana and Verma added 31 off 20 balls.
Brief Scores: India 131-4 in 15.2 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 49*) vs Australia
