Annabel Sutherland’s fluent strokeplay, Ellyse Perry’s record-breaking knock and India’s costly dropped catches defined the first session of Day 2.
Australia resumed the day at 96/3 with Perry on 43* and Sutherland on 20*. The Indian bowlers had bowled beautifully under lights on Day 1, and the first half hour on Day 2 was always going to be crucial because conditions would gradually start favouring the batters as the day progressed until the lights returned in the evening.
India began with Kashvee Gautam and Sneh Rana. The Sneh Rana move was understandable because Sutherland has shown vulnerabilities against spin. However, the choice of Kashvee Gautam was difficult to understand when Sayali Satghare, among the three pacers in the playing XI, is the one who usually makes the ball talk the most in these conditions. Yet Rana bowled just one over and Kashvee two.
It was the same basic mistake India have been making from the beginning of this Test. Test cricket is about patience. You stick to your plans for a period and only make changes if they do not work, which is very different from the T20Is and ODIs the team is more accustomed to playing.
Since India did not pose much of a threat in the first half hour and also gifted a few poor balls, the Perry–Sutherland duo settled quickly. They had a simple plan: play the first hour with caution and punish the bad deliveries, knowing that the following one-and-a-half sessions would offer the best batting conditions and allow them to capitalise once set.
After the first drinks break, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur challenged them with Rana and Deepti Sharma in tandem. By then both Perry and Sutherland had not only reached their individual half-centuries but had also started opening up, with runs flowing freely.
In the 48th over, Deepti caught Perry napping on the crease and the DRS went in India’s favour, finally breaking the 128-run partnership.
What followed was a phase of 10.3 overs the Indian fielders would rather forget. Indian fielding has often come under scrutiny for its lacklustre standards, and this period reinforced that concern. Beth Mooney was dropped for a duck on the second ball of her innings. Sneh Rana, stationed in the slips, had her hands in an awkward position and failed to hold on.
Soon after, Sutherland, who already has a double century at this ground, began to show nerves in the nineties. Attempting to flick a Deepti delivery, she edged it down the leg side where Richa Ghosh could not hold on to a difficult chance.
At tea, Sutherland remains unbeaten on 93 while Mooney is on 10*. Australia has already taken a 19-run lead. In the first session, 31 overs were bowled and Australia scored 121 runs while losing only one wicket.
Perry also became Australia Women’s highest run-scorer in Tests. Speaking to the host broadcasters about the milestone, she said: “It feels like I’ve been around for a long time now! But it was a really enjoyable session out there batting with Annabel Sutherland. She’s just so classy. Being at the other end watching her do her thing was absolutely awesome.”
It was an excellent session for Australia, placing them firmly in control. India will now need to keep the lead below 100 and hope their batters deliver in the second innings if they are to stay alive in this Test match.
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