NEW DELHI: Raghvi Bist and Tejal Hasabnis' half-centuries were not enough to secure a victory for India 'A' as they faced a four-wicket defeat against Australia 'A' in the first one-day match at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Wednesday.
Katie Mack's impressive 129 runs guided the Australian team to success.
India 'A' struggled early on, finding themselves at 56/3 in 12.3 overs. However, Tejal's 53 off 67 balls, which included seven fours, and Raghvi's 82 off 102 deliveries, featuring six boundaries, helped the visitors reach a total of 249/9, reported IANS.
Maitlan Brown was the standout bowler for Australia 'A', taking 4-23, while Nicola Hancock and Grace Parsons claimed two wickets each.
In response, Katie's 129 off 126 deliveries, reaching her century off 106 balls, laid the foundation for Australia 'A's win. She formed partnerships of 50 with Maddy Darke, 65 with Charli Knott, and a decisive 135-run stand with captain Tahlia McGrath, who contributed 56 off 61 balls.
Despite a late wobble, Kate Peterson sealed the victory for Australia 'A' with 18 balls remaining, as the Australian team selectors observed the match from the stands. Meghna Singh and Minnu Mani took two wickets each for India 'A'.
India 'A' faced early setbacks with the bat as Nicola dismissed Shweta Sehrawat and Priya Punia, while Tahlia removed Shubha Satheesh. Tejal and Raghvi combined for a vital 55-run partnership, and Raghvi went on to build stands of 52 and 68 with Minnu and Shipra Giri, respectively.
Maitlan dashed Raghvi's hopes of reaching a century, taking three wickets in the final over to restrict India 'A' to a modest total. Australia 'A' successfully chased down the target, maintaining their unbeaten record in the ongoing multi-format tour. The remaining two matches will take place in Mackay on Friday and Sunday.
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