Australia bowled out for 133 as India stay ahead on DLS before rain ends SCG opener

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India laid down an early marker in the opening women’s T20I at the SCG, taking a 1-0 lead in the rain-shortened contest after a dominant bowling performance against Australia. A career-best spell from Arundhati Reddy and incisive powerplay bowling by Renuka Singh restricted the hosts to 133 before India comfortably stayed ahead of the DLS par when rain halted play after five overs of the chase.

Australia, playing their first match under new captain Sophie Molineux, lost their last eight wickets for just 65 runs. Reddy was the standout, claiming 4 for 22 and removing key batters including Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry. Despite five of Australia’s top seven reaching double figures, Georgia Wareham top-scored with 30 in an otherwise disjointed innings.

Australia’s total of 133 in 18 overs marked only the sixth time in T20I history they have been bowled out batting first, underlining India’s control with the ball. Renuka was exceptional upfront, conceding just two runs across her second and third overs and dismissing Beth Mooney, while also bowling a maiden that stalled the innings early.

India at the Reddy, Renuka rules powerplay

At 68 for 2 after seven overs, Australia looked set before Reddy turned the game. Perry was brilliantly caught by Harmanpreet Kaur running back from mid-off, triggering a collapse. Reddy then dismissed Litchfield and saw Ashleigh Gardner chip Deepti Sharma to midwicket, leaving Australia half their side down before the halfway stage.

Wareham and Nicola Carey threatened a recovery, but Reddy returned to remove Wareham and later bowled Darcie Brown to wrap up the innings. Annabel Sutherland, batting at No. 8 despite ample time, managed only 3 before being sharply stumped by Richa Ghosh.

Shafali sets the tone before rain intervenes

India’s chase began aggressively, with Shafali Verma launching Kim Garth for six early. Although Shafali fell to Molineux’s first ball as captain, India raced to 50 inside five overs as Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana found boundaries.

Crucially, the rain arrived only after the minimum five overs were completed, confirming India’s win and giving them a 1-0 lead in the series. The victory leaves India just one win away from only their second bilateral T20I series triumph on Australian soil, a strong statement at the start of the tour.