A sturdy 102-run unbeaten stand between Deepti Sharma (70) and Pooja Vastrakar (33) restored India Women's command against Australia on the second day of the ongoing one-off Test, stretching the home team's first-innings lead to 157 on Friday. India reached 376/7 in reply to Australia's 219 with their resolute batting show spruced up by Smriti Mandhana's 74, Jemimah Rodrigues' 73 and a fine 52 from debutant Richa Ghosh.
Deepti and Vastrakar came together after India lost four quick wickets for a mere 14 runs to cede advantage to Australia, as their resistance flattened the visitors who used eight bowling options with only Ashleigh Gardner (4/100) making an impact.
The right-arm off-spinner Gardner, coming off an eight-wicket spell in the women's Ashes Test, troubled the Indians the most as she kept nibbling away with crucial wickets while being persistent with probing line and lengths.
But the Indians eventually wrested back control, riding on the splendid partnership between Deepti and Vastrakar, who were a mere five runs away from recording the best eighth-wicket stand for India Women's ever when stumps were drawn.
While Deepti cracked nine fours to make 70 not out off 147 balls, it was Vastrakar whose ascend as one of India's dependable players continued.
Having returned figures of 4/53 on the first day, Vastrakar reached 33 not out from 115 balls with four boundaries.
However, the highlight of the day was youngsters Ghosh (52) and Rodrigues (73) taking apart the Australian bowlers with disdain, putting on 113 runs for the side's second-best partnership for the fourth wicket.
In her maiden outing with the bat in Tests, Ghosh put on a fine show of attack and resilience alike, cracking seven fours in her 104-ball
cricket
India Women
Australia Women
Test
Ashleigh Gardner
Smriti Mandhana
Deepti Sharma