Australia’s women opened the home summer cricket season in emphatic fashion by belting India by nine wickets in the international series opener in Mackay on Tuesday.
The victory was, incredibly, the Aussies’ 25th consecutive ODI win, continuing their dominance in the 50-over game.
And a couple of the country’s brightest up and coming cricket stars emerged in the process.
Australia won the toss and opted to bowl, after naming debutant Hannah Darlington alongside 18-year-old Darcie Brown.
Those two tore India apart, combining for six wickets. Brown took the first of the match and then the teenager took three more to record impressive figures of 4-33, while Darlington finished 2-39.
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That young pair stood up after a poor start by experienced campaigner Ellyse Perry.
India saw out the 50 overs and finished 8-225.
It was a tricky target for the Aussies but they managed it with ease, dropping only one wicket on their way to a resounding victory.
Alyssa Healy passed 2000 career ODI runs on her way to 77 off 77 balls. Rachael Haynes finished on 93 from 100 balls and captain Meg Lanning on 53 from 69 when the winning runs were hit.
The match is the first of seven in a multi-format series against India. The second ODI is on Friday, again in Mackay.
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