Australia beat India in women`s T20 World Cup

Galle: Australia comprehensively beat India by eight wickets in their opening match of the ICC Women`s World Twenty20 Championships here Thursday.

India won the toss and elected to bat in hot and humid conditions at the Galle International Stadium. Right-arm medium-pacer Julie Hunter struck first for the Australians with Jess Cameron catching Anita Sharma (11) at mid-on. Left-armed spinner Jess Jonassen picked up her first wicket in the 12th over, dismissing big hitting batter Jhulan Goswami (2). Jonassen was the most economical of the Australian bowlers averaging two runs for her three overs and bowled a maiden. Player of the Match Erin Osborne claimed another two wickets late in the innings to finish with figures of three for 13. Australia`s great all-round bowling effort restricted the Indians to a modest 104 for eight. In reply, Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy got the Southern Stars off to a cracking start, combining for a 43-run partnership before Healy (21) was dismissed off the bowling of Shubhlakshmi Sharma. Lanning contributed a classy 39 runs to the chase before she was dismissed by Goswami. Lanning became the first women`s T20 player to get scores over 30 in five consecutive matches. Cameron continued her superb form from the field, where she took three catches to the crease, hitting 36 off 35 to take Australia through to the win in the 17th over. Australian captain Jodie Fields said she was very happy with the performance of her side. "The three spinners we have here have been around the squad for a couple of years and all know their roles well and I couldn`t have asked for anything more from those girls today," Fields said. "We probably had a few things in the field to improve on, we need to get used to the field as was a bit bumpy at times but our batting was great and we need to take that into the match. IANS