India put up a highly commendable performance, dominating Australia for the better part in its maiden day/night women's Test, which ended in a draw primarily due to inclement weather during the first two days, in Gold Coast, on Sunday.
Resuming the day on 143 for 3, Ellyse Perry (68 not out) and Ashleigh Gardner (51) went on to share an 89-run stand before the Indian pacers triggered a batting collapse, reducing Australia to 241 for 9 from 208 for 4.
What followed was an interesting declaration from Meg Lanning at the stroke of dinner.
India, who scored 377 in the first innings after being asked to bat, played 35 overs in the second innings before declaring after tea, and setting Australia an improbable 272-run target in just 32 overs.
Shafali Verma scored a fine 52 off 91 balls while Punam Raut was unbeaten on 41 off 62 balls.
The target was virtually out of reach for Australia, who lost Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney cheaply.
Australia were 36 for 2 in 15 overs before players of both teams shook hands to settle for a draw.
As per rules for multi-format series, both teams settled for two points. The series score stands at 6-4 in Australia's favour.
More than 80 overs were lost due to weather over the first two days, making a draw the most likely outcome of the four-day match.
India could have declared at tea with a 242-run lead and 41 overs to bowl, but they didn't want to leave anything to chance and took the safety-first approach.
India reached 106 2 in their second innings at tea. First innings centurion Smrti Mandhana (31 off 48) fell to a fantastic catch in the deep by Ashleigh Garnder.
Yastika Bhatia (3) was promoted to number three to push the scoring rate but she lasted only 12 balls.
In the first session, India pacers made the new pink ball talk before an under-pressure Australia made an interesting declaration.
In what seemed as an attempt to move the game forward, Meg Lanning declared the innings before her team could be bowled out.
While Deepti Sharma got rid of Gardner, Meghna once again troubled the batters with her out-swingers as India took four wickets after the second new ball was taken in the 81st over.
Perry, who averages more than 78 in Test cricket, could have been out as many as three times but had the luck on her side. While one was a close leg before shout, she was also dropped twice.
Meghna took her maiden wicket with a beautiful outswinger to have Annabel Sutherland caught behind. Her second wicket was Sophie Molineux, who was foxed by another out-swinger (inswinger) to the left-hander.
Scorecard
India (1st Innings): 377 for 8 declared
Australia (1st Innings):
Alyssa Healy c T Bhatia b J Goswami 29
Beth Mooneyb J Goswami 4
Meg Lanning lbw b P Vatsrakar 38
Ellyse Perry batting 68
Tahlia McGrath c Mandhana b P Vastrakar 28
Ashleigh Gardner c Mithali b Deepti Sharma 51
Annabel Sutherland c Taniya Bhatia b Meghna Singh 3
Sophie Molineux lbw b Meghna Singh 2
Georgia Wareham c Taniya Bhatia b Pooja Vastrakar 2
Darcie Brown lbw b Deepti Sharma 8
Stella Campbell batting 0.
Extras: (LB-6, W-1, nb-1) 8
Total: (for 9 wickets in 96.4 overs) 241
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-63, 3-80, 4-119, 208-5, 216-6, 220-7, 223-8, 240-9.
Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 22-7-33-2, Meghna Singh 19-2-54-2, Pooja Vastrakar 21.4-6-49-3, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 18-1-63-0, Deeti Sharma 16-6-36-2.
India (2nd innings):
Shafali Verma lbw Wareham 52
Smriti Mandhana c Gardner b Molineux 31
Yastika Bhatia b Gardner 3
Punam Raut not out 41
Deepti Sharma not out 3
Extras: (B-5) 5
Total: (for 3 wkts, 37 overs) 135
Fall of wickets: 70-1, 74-2, 122-3
Bowling: Ellyse Perry 5-1-14-0, Darcie Brown 4-0-15-0, Stella Campbell 4-1-19-0, Tahlia McGrath 2-0-6-0, Annabel Sutherland 2-0-10-0, Sophie Molineux 7-0-23-1, Ashleigh Gardner 10-1-31-1, Wareham 3-0-12-1.
Australia women (2nd innings):
Alyssa Healy b Goswami 6
Beth Mooney c Gayakwad b Pooja Vastrakar 11
Meg Lanning not out 17
Ellyse Perry not out 1.
Extras: (LB-1) 1
Total: (for 2 wkts, 15 overs) 36
Fall of wickets: 8-1, 28-2
Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 6-2-8-1, Meghna Singh 2-0-12-0, Pooja Vastrakar 5-1-13-1, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2-1-2-0.
