India made a strong start, reaching 101 for 1 at the dinner break on the opening day of their one-off Day/Night pink ball Test against Australia here on Thursday, thanks to Smriti Mandhana's stunning unbroken half-century.
Mandhana added 93 for the opening stand with Shafali Verma (31 off 64 balls), who played second fiddle during their partnership and blasted the off-side field with some exquisite drives to reach 64 off 112 balls with 13 boundaries.
In fact, it was a case of role reversal that took the Australians off surprise, as Shafali preferred to play defensively while her older partner attacked with gusto.
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Darcie Brown received particular treatment from Mandhana, who struck her for a number of boundaries on the off-side as well as a couple of whip shots on the leg-side.
Ellyse Perry required a few overs to get the proper length, but with a cover drive from Tahlia McGrath, the exquisite left-hander achieved her run-a-ball fifty in no time.
It was the most pleasing sight whenever Mandhana bisected between point and cover, cover, or mid-off.
Shafali struck four boundaries but was scratchy after giving up two opportunities — one to Meg Lanning in the slips, which was a reflex catch, and the other to Annabel Sutherland, who was stationed at mid-on.
Finally, she was gone, attempting to smash left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux off the turn, and McGrath was handed a sitter at mid-off.
Mandhana's innings was split into two parts: the first fifty came in a flash, while the following 14 runs took 62 deliveries as she played the defensive game with Punam Raut till lunch.
India 1st Innings 101/1 in 33 overs (Smriti Mandhana 64 batting, Shafali Verma 31; Sophie Molineux 1/18) vs Australia .