Twitter Reactions: All-round Australia breeze past India to take the ODI series opener

It was a dominating performance of the highest order by the Australian women as they breezed past India women by nine wickets in the first ODI of the multi-format series. This thumping win is also the 25th straight victory by Australia in the ODI format and by the looks of today’s performance, the streak doesn’t seem to end soon.

It all started with skipper Meg Lanning winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Although the home team was without Megan Schutt, her Adelaide Strikers teammate in the WBBL Darcie Brown stood up and delivered a bowling masterclass. First up, she started by removing the dangerous India opener Shafali Verma, and then scalped Mandhana as well to put the visitors on the backfoot.

The onus of run-scoring again fell on skipper Mithali Raj’s shoulders. The veteran batter didn’t disappoint and carried India’s inning with a gritty knock of 63. She was well supported by debutant Yastika Bhatia, who made 35 before Brown again struck. With that wicket, India collapsed and could only get to 225. For the visitors, even Hannah Darlington was good chipping in with two wickets.

Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes smash records

In response, Alyssa Healy and vice-captain Rachael Haynes didn’t find any difficulty whatsoever and went about their business in their usual attacking manner. While Healy took the attack to the opposition by dispatching Pooja Vastrakar and the rest of the bowlers, Haynes remained calm at one end by mixing caution with aggression. The duo put on 126 run-stand for the opening wicket and put the match beyond the visitors’ control.

Although India managed to pick Healy for 77, skipper Lanning ensured there was no respite whatsoever as she marched along displaying her indefatigable appetite for run-scoring and also for run-chases. In the process, records too tumbled along the way. Haynes and Healy got to 2000 runs in ODIs and became the ninth and 10 Aussie batters to do. Australia completed the chase with nine overs to spare. Brown was named the player of the match for her four wickets.

The home team have got two points in the multi-format series and will look to seal the ODI series in the second game. Meanwhile, India have very little time for a turnaround as the next ODI will be played on Friday (24 September).

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

No competitive cricket for 6 months. No Megan Schutt. No Jess Jonassen…. No worries for the @AusWomenCricket tram with a dominant 9 wicket win in the first ODI. #AusvInd https://t.co/25OidBcAyL

— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) September 21, 2021

Much like the men's team of early 2000s the Aus women's cricket team is an absolute force in the circuit. Every one is a superstar and they play like they own the ground…in other words very Aussie way of the 2000s #AUSvIND

— Amit (@Amit_SenBa) September 21, 2021

Meg Lanning completes 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Games for Australia !!

Meg Lanning represent Australia in 4 Tests, 86 ODIs and 110 T20 matches.

Lanning scored 185, 3978, 2914 runs in Tests, ODIs and T20s respectively.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SyrqxQWqno

— Women Cricket (@Woman_Cricket) September 21, 2021

Who goes out when Harman makes a comeback? #AUSvIND

— Vishal Yadav (@vishalyadavgcc) September 21, 2021

India need to find a top order batter who can bowl at least 4-5 overs a game. There's so little flexibility in this line up. #AUSvIND

— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) September 21, 2021

20K international runs – just another reason for us to celebrate, here at Mithali Raj Fan Club! 🙌🏼

Here’s to the undisputed boss lady, the one who we #Believe will help #TeamIndia conquer #Mission2022! 💙#AUSWvINDW #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dSiX82uBki

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 21, 2021

Well done mithali! Great achievement… may you continue to inspire the generations of cricketers to come. https://t.co/XHPjExxxR0

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) September 21, 2021

Over the years I feel like 🇮🇳 have missed opportunities to really groom allrounders.
– In 2014 Pandey scored back to back 50s v SA at No.4
– Vastrakar's promise v Aus in 2018 – could have been given a longer rope
– Rodrigues' bowling – a chance to fit her into the XI https://t.co/efuUXOPf4D

— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) September 21, 2021

Fifties from Australia Women's top three help them to take 1-0 lead against India Women in the ODI series.#AUSWvINDW #ODIs #Cricket #CricTracker pic.twitter.com/7P6zXw8kj6

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 21, 2021

Dominating performances from the Australian Women's team. They are on an unbelievable streak: won 25 consecutive ODI. Their streak began in March 2018 v India in Vadodara. Sheer dominance. Congratulations @AusWomenCricket

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 21, 2021

Innings to 2000 ODI runs for AusWomen:
41 BClark
45 MLanning
55 KRolton
58 RHaynes
60 LKeightley
64 EPerry
68 SNitschke
69 AHealy
70 LSthalekar
77 ABlackwell

— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) September 21, 2021