MATCH REPORT
Follow UsIndia was heading towards to a big score in the first T20I against Australia at the Carrara Oval in Gold Coast before heavy rain forced an abandonment of the game on Thursday.
Jemimah Rodrigues smashed an unbeaten 49 off 36 balls as India reached 131 for 4 in 15.2 overs before heavy rain interrupted play. After their dominant performance in the one-off day-night Test last week, Indian openers Smriti Mandhana (17 off 10) and Shafali Verma (18 off 14) got off to a flier as they put up 31 in 3.1 overs before Ashleigh Gardner removed the pair in the same over.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the ODIs and Test, began aggressively with two boundaries off pacer Tayla Vlaeminck. She hit her third boundary in four ball against Sophie Molineux before departing as leg before in the sixth over.
Rodrigues, who was sidelined for the ODI series, then combined with Yastika Bhatia (15 off 15) for a 51-run stand as the pair took on the Australian bowlers. Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham broke the dangerous partnership in the 13th over when Bhatia hit it straight to Vlaeminck at long-on.
"Glad to be playing again. I was unable to make the most out of my chances in England, so I was just enjoying my time in the middle. I'm not disappointed that the fifty didn't come, because there are still loads of runs to be scored," Rodrigues said in the post-match press conference.
After hitting a rough patch, Rodrigues regained her scoring touch playing in The Hundred for Northern Super Chargers.
"It was not an easy time for me. Playing The Hundred helped me a lot. I wouldn't played for India again, had I not played there. I hope we can have Women's IPL so playing there will help us in international cricket," she said.
Richa Ghosh came in and hit three boundaries of Tahlia McGrath to take the score past 130-run mark when the play was called off due to heavy downpour.