A fielding masterclass by Australia’s Ellyse Perry and Tahila McGrath combined with communication malfunction between the Indian batters led to Deepti Sharma’s run out on Saturday. India face Australia in a must win second T20I at the Carrara Oval in Queensland. Batting first the visitors posted 118 runs. 

Indian batters Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar were stranded at the bowler’s end as Aussie wicketkeeper took her sweet time to  see who she was running out. It was the second ball of the 16th over and India were reeling at 76/6 when Sharma swept Gardender to the deep square leg boundary. The ball sped quick and Sharma was expecting a boundary. However, inches away from the rope, Ellyse Perry dived and rocked the ball back in.  Tahlia McGrath got in on the action and threw it back to the keeper. Both batters were running towards the same end and Healy sealed the proceedings with comfort. 

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Deepti Sharma was dismissed for 16 runs off 19 balls. 

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India suffered similar miscommunication that resulted in a run out in the 10th over of the game. It was Gardner’s delivery that Richa Ghosh clipped this in front of deep mid-wicket with soft hands. The two ran a single before Ghosh asked for another run. However, Yastika was sent back from halfway down the crease. The confusion between the two resulted in the latter getting dismissed for eight runs in 11 balls. 

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Puja Vastrakar gave a fine exhibition of power-hitting as her 36 not out off 27 balls took India to 118 after they were reeling at 81 for nine against Australia. 

Vasktrakar, fondly called ‘Chota Hardik’ by her Test skipper Mithali Raj, has come of age as an all-rounder on this tour. She hit three fours and two sixes at the back end to ensure that India don’t embarrass themselves on a track which was good for batting.

Even though the score is below-par against Southern Stars but Vastrakar’s clean hits at least gave them something to fight for.