India women start World Cup with a win, beat Australia by 17 runs

Hyderabad: The Indian women's cricket team made sure they started off the Women's T20S World Cup in style as they beat the defending champions Australia by 17 runs in the World Cup opener at Sydney on Friday.

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first against India as they recently beat them in the final of the Tri-series. Indian openers Shafali Verma & Smriti Mandhana came out to bat.

The 16-year-old looked in sublime touch as she smacked the bowlers all around the ground. India were off to a flying start with 40/0 in four overs.

Australia soon made a comeback with Jonassen dismissing Mandhana. Shafali Verma then got out soon to Perry. As India looked in all sorts of trouble, Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur couldn't add much to the team's total. India were 47/3 as Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepthi Sharma handled the innings well. They put up a 53-run partnership with Jemimah going back for 26.

Deepthi Sharma continued her dominant show with good support from Veda Krishnamurthy as India put up a total of 132/4. Deepthi finished unbeaten on 49.

Chasing 133 to win, it looked like an easy chase for Australia. Openers Healy & Mooney walked out to bat and gave a good start to the team, adding 32 for the first wicket. Skipper Meg Lanning too couldn't score much as she got out for 5. Healy couldn't build her innings any bigger and got out for 51.

The Middle-order was completely ineffective on the given day as Poonam Yadav spun through the Australian batting line up. Shikha Pandey supported her equally well with figures of 3-14. Ashleigh Gardener handled the things well in all sorts of trouble but couldn't take her team home as India completed a comprehensive victory and a major upset early on in the tournament against Australia by 17 runs.

Poonam Yadav was adjudged the Player of the Match for her match-winning bowling figures of 4-19 in 4 overs.