Mercurial India Women Wary Of Australia Backlash In Search Of T20I Series Win

A mercurial Indian Women's team will be keen to produce another all-round show as they look to seal the three-match series against Australia in the second T20I in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Putting behind the disappointment of a 0-3 hammering in the ODIs — marred by poor efforts in all areas — India Women came out firing on all cylinders in the first T20 to thrash Australia by a huge nine-wicket margin for the first time in history. Criticised for being sloppy in the ODIs, India were spectacularly athletic in the field on Friday, while the bowlers led by young Titas Sadhu did not allow Australia to get away at any stage in the first half of the opening T20.

Shafali Verma (64 not out) and Smriti Mandhana (54) then shared 137 runs -- India's best opening partnership against Australia in T20I history -- to take them home.

It was a near-perfect night for the 19-year-old Sadhu (4/17), who set the ball rolling with three powerplay wickets, while spinners Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil too claimed two wickets each to support the young pacer.

The Indian team also brought up their fielding several notches higher to save plenty of runs. The catching was good too with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur herself holding on to four chances.

Even Titas did well on one occasion to snaffle her fourth wicket when Ashleigh Gardner gave a return catch on her follow through.

"Behind every match or every good performance, there are hours of hard work that is for any given match," Titas told the media after the match.

"I felt like our fielding effort was brilliant because a bowler can't give her best until and unless she is supported by all the nine players inside the ground." India's comprehensive win on Friday night at the DY Patil Stadium has put them