Australia 102 for 5 (Voll 46*, Litchfield 35, Renuka 3-45, Mishra 2-11) beat India 100 (Rodrigues 23, Schutt 5-19, Sutherland 1-13) by five wickets
Returning to the field for the first time since a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, Australia comfortably beat India in the ODI series-opener at Allan Border Field after quick Megan Schutt claimed a career best 5-19 and Georgia Voll impressed on debut.
In a disastrous start in their bid to win a first series over Australia in Australia, India were unable to capitalise on good batting conditions. They lost wickets regularly to be bowled out for just 100 in the 35th over, their lowest total in women's ODIs since being dismissed for 79 by Australia in 2012.
India's bowling attack was sent on a hiding to nothing as openers Voll and Phoebe Litchfield quickly put on 48. Litchfield blasted 35 off 29 balls, including six boundaries in a row at one stage, before her dismissal triggered a collapse. Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney fell in quick succession with Renuka Singh picking three wickets.
Rookie legspinner Priya Mishra made further inroads with two strikes of her own, but Voll, 21, showcased maturity and continued her strong form from the WBBL. Reprieved on 27 when Richa Ghosh, the wicketkeeper, put down a tough chance, Voll finished unbeaten on 46 off 42 balls as Australia clinched victory in only the 17th over.
India ultimately rued a disastrous batting performance that quickly nosedived against outstanding new-ball bowling from Schutt, who produced menacing outswing to finish with her first five-wicket haul in ODIs. Their shot selection was off, while their running between the wickets was sloppy too.
Conversely, it was an almost flawless display from a fired-up Australia with Tahlia McGrath pulling all the right moves as she fills in for injured regular skipper Alyssa Healy in this three-match series.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur surprisingly opted to bat at a venue where teams have traditionally chased well. Having only played three ODIs since 2023, Priya Punia was selected to open alongside Smriti Mandhana in a golden opportunity to cement her place in the team.
She faced up to Schutt immediately and scored off the first ball before Mandhana unfurled several gorgeous strokes in an encouraging start. But it was downhill for India once Mandhana was caught behind after attempting to cut a wide delivery from Schutt, who smartly changed the angle by going around the wicket.
Coming back from a long injury layoff, Harleen Deol hoped to stamp herself at No.3 in a position India have struggled to fill. But Deol and Punia were pinned down and they struggled to rotate strike as pressure built. It proved too much for Punia who holed out to backward square having made just 3 off 17 balls.
At 19 for 2 in the seventh over, Harmanpreet entered the crease much earlier than she would have hoped. India's uncertain running between the wickets almost accounted for Harmanpreet on 2, but Alana King missed a shy at the stumps from midwicket. Harmanpreet and Deol attempted rebuild and their confidence increased with the ball starting to lose its shine.
But McGrath decided it was time for spin in the 12th over and threw the ball to Ashleigh Gardner, who on her third delivery had Deol hitting to mid-on where an outstretched Annabel Sutherland claimed a terrific catch with her athleticism coming to the fore.
Sutherland's influence on the game continued when she had claimed the big wicket of Harmanpreet, who unsuccessfully reviewed an lbw decision. Jemimah Rodrigues, who was available to play after injuring her wrist in the latter stages of the WBBL, briefly thwarted Australia before she was clean bowled on 23 by a terrific delivery from Kim Garth.
Australia were on a roll when Georgia Wareham completed a brilliant run out of Deepti Sharma with a direct hit from the deep midwicket boundary. After being sidelined through the T20 World Cup, legspinner King marked her return with the wicket of debutant Titas Sadhu as India lost their last six wickets for just 11 runs.
Voll, who received her cap before play from Mooney, started her international career with a belligerent boundary through the covers on the fourth ball of Australia's chase. She helped ride the wobble even as Australia lost a clutch of wickets late in the chase to seal victory.
India's late rally did save some face, but they will need to regroup quickly for game two on Sunday at the same venue.
