INDW vs AUSW, 1st ODI: Jemimah Rodrigues battles Mumbai heat to hit gritty 82 to help India post 282

Young batting star Jemimah Rodrigues came up with a sensational display of batting as she scored a gritty half-century during India women’s 1st ODI match against Australia women at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on December 28, 2023.

The players had to deal with hot and humid conditions in Mumbai as multiple breaks were taken during the Indian innings. Jemimah didn’t let that deter her focus as she held the Indian innings after the top-order was bowled cheaply.

The Indian team were reeling at 57/3 when the 24-year-old batter walked into bat. While the wickets kept tumbling on one end, Jemimah held the fort at one end. She upped the ante and contributed significant runs to India’s tally. She added valuable runs with the lower-order, by having crucial partnerships with Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur. She not only ensured that India crossed the 200-run mark but also made sure India posted a respectable total of 282 against Australia.

In the 47th over, Jemimah mistimed a delivery to Tahlia McGrath at long-off. Her valiant knock of 82 runs off 77 deliveries came to an end after being dismissed by Ash Gardner. The Indian dressing room rose to applaud the young batter’s efforts.

Piooja Vastrakar also continued her fine run, hitting 7 sixes and 2 boundaries for her 46-ball 62 that propeled the Indian team toward the 300-run mark.

This was Jemimah’s third consecutive fifty for India women this month, proving her worth as a key player across formats.

Earlier this month, Jemimah put up an impressive performance on her Test debut for India by scoring a brilliant half-century against England at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. India won the Test match by a huge margin of 347 runs. Jemimah followed it up with another half-century against Australia in the very next Test match at the Wankhede Stardium.

After scripting a historic win against Australia women in the one-off Test match by 8 wickets., the Indian women’s team is playing a 3-match ODI series. Australia women’s tour to India will conclude with a 3-match T20I series from January 5 to 9.

India women’s team doesn’t boast of a great record against Australia women. Out of the 50 ODIs that the two teams played against each other, Australia emerged victorious on 40 occasions. The India women have managed to win only 10 ODI so far against Australia.