Carrara (Queensland), Oct 7: India batter Jemimah Rodrigues remained stranded on 49* as the opening T20I between Australia and India in Carrara was abandoned as persistent rain forced the play to be called off on Thursday (October 6).
The India innings went till 15.2 overs before the players had to leave the field. The visitors were on track to post a competitive total with 131/4 already on the board.
Australia captain Meg Lanning elected to field after winning the toss. Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana arrived at the crease with an all guns blazing approach. Shafali started with a brutal six to get herself off the mark with pure timing taking the ball over the ropes.
Mandhana got a couple of fours and a six-under her belt but Ashleigh Gardner snared the wickets of both the openers who looked threatening. Mandhana skipped down the ground, however, Hannah Darlington caught her at mid-off for 17.
Shafali soon departed to Gardner in the same over for 18 runs - all scored in sixes. Rodrigues came to the middle and stitched a 51-run stand with debutant Yastika Bhatia.
Seeing @JemiRodrigues bat after a long time..she looked good and was very impressive. Just when she was setting things up nicely, rains played spoilsport in #indwvausw T20i.. @BCCIWomen
— WV Raman (@wvraman) October 7, 2021
Bhatia managed to contribute with a run-a-ball 15 before perishing to Georgia Wareham in the 13th over. Just as the innings entered the final five overs and Rodrigues nearing her seventh T20I fifty, rain interrupted the proceedings with Richa Ghosh 17 not out at the other end. Rodrigues successfully went past 1000 T20I runs in the course of her innings.
The two sides will now clash on Saturday (October 9) in the same venue at the Metricon Stadium in Carrara.