Maitlan Brown

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 129 runs guided the Australian team to success. India 'A' struggled, 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, helped the visitors reach a total of 249/9.

Star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, recovering from a hamstring injury, was on Friday named in an 18-player Australian women squad for the T20I and ODI series against New Zealand in September but her participation will be subject to fitness.

Australian bowlers Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen will miss the upcoming home series against India women's team slated to begin in September.

In the final Twenty20 match, Australia Women 'A' secured a seven-wicket victory over India, led by an unbeaten 51 from Tahila McGrath. India, scoring 120 for eight, faced a strong Australian chase, with McGrath and team reaching the target in 13.5 overs. Australia's Nicola Hancock, Grace Parsons, and Maitlan Brown each took two wickets.

Seven international games, including a Test match in a space of 20 days, won't allow Australia to field their best first XI in all games against India in the upcoming series, Southern Stars' head coach Matthew Mott has hinted.

India A will take on their Australian counterparts in the first of three women's limited overs games here at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla complex facility on Monday.

Spinners Minnu Mani and Priya Mishra shared nine wickets between them as India A bundled out Australia A for a paltry 212 to gain a massive upper hand on the first day of the four-day one-off women's 'unofficial' Test in Gold Coast on Thursday.

India A bowlers led a spirited fightback but Australia A tightened grip on the unofficial one-off women's Test, with the hosts' overall lead surging to 192 runs in Gold Coast on the second day on Friday.

On a roll, the upbeat India A women will look to seal the three-match T20 series when they take on their Australian counterparts in the second game here on Wednesday.

Outplayed in every aspect of the game so far, the Indian women's cricket team desperately needs its top order to strike form and its bowlers to show some spark against an in-form Australia in the second ODI here on Friday.

Bolstered by Jemimah Rodrigues' return to form, India will look to come out all guns blazing in the second women's T20 International against Australia on Saturday after rain played spoilsport in the opening game here.

Having gained significantly in confidence with a fighting performance in one-dayers, the Indian women's cricket team would now go through a trial by fire when it make its day-night Test debut against Australia in the one-off game beginning here on Thursday.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's return from an injury layoff will make for a heavyweight presence as a buoyant India challenge a multi-dimensional Australian women's team in a three-match T20I series beginning here on Thursday.

India's under-fire bowlers will need to put up a much-improved show as they face the ignominy of a clean sweep against an Australian team, which is looking for its 27th win on the trot, during the third and final women's ODI on Sunday.

The under-fire middle-order will be expected to deliver when India take on the mighty Australia in the ODI series beginning here on Tuesday, aiming to finalise their combination ahead of the Women's World Cup next year.