Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav’s wrong-uns bamboozled Australian batters as India opened the seventh edition of the Women T20 World Cup with a 17-run victory at Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a target of 133, the host team got bundled out for 115. Opener Alyssa Healy (51) did show some fight but couldn’t take her side over the line.
Earlier, India posted 132-4 in 20 overs, thanks to Deepti Sharma, who scored an unbeaten 49 and Shefali Verma for her quickfire 15-ball 29 runs knock. Yadav, for her four-wicket haul, was honoured with the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Several legends of the game, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Mohammad Kaif, Mithali Raj, along with celebrities like Anushka Sharma and Taapsee Pannu, congratulated the Indian women team on their fabulous win.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Comprehensive performance by Team India to start the @T20WorldCup campaign!
Congratulations and keep up the good work. pic.twitter.com/dHQ6KL6JmK— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 21, 2020
Whadaay Win. Well done girls. Bowling out Australia defending 132 is an outstanding effort. Congratulations @BCCIWomen #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/31RPqDoqQD
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 21, 2020
Congratulations @BCCIWomen on a magnificent beginning to the World Cup Campaign. Great effort by Poonam Yadav and the bowlers to defend 132 against Australia. Best wishes for the matches ahead #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/se9F12Xvpa
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 21, 2020
What a start to the tournament, @BCCIWomen! Beating the hosts and defending champions Australia in the very first game!
Deepti’s resolve put runs on the board before Poonam Yadav literally ‘turned’ things around! Top stuff, girls! 🇮🇳👏🏼#T20WorldCup #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/EDRbMVzISK
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 21, 2020
Congratulations to the girls on a wonderful win against the Aussies . Well done @poonam_yadav24 Great start to the #T20WorldCup .
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) February 21, 2020
Well THAT'S made things interesting, hasn't it? It's wide open now. Brilliant bowling by India and Poonam Yadav's wrong'uns were something special. #T20WorldCup
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) February 21, 2020
What a brilliant start to the world cup and an absolutely thrilling victory by the women in blue!! Mazaa aa gaya ☺ 👏🇮🇳✌!!
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) February 21, 2020
Well done girls👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼#WomensT20WorldCup that was a GOOD victory !!!! #IndVsAus
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) February 21, 2020
Congratulations, #TeamIndia! Take a bow, @poonam_yadav24. @ImHarmanpreet, very impressive win against the @AusWomenCricket #AUSWvINDW #ICCT20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2pxwEWktBT
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 21, 2020
An excellent start for the girls in #WT20WC with @Deepti_Sharma06 (49 not out) doing well with the bat, @shikhashauny picking 3 wickets and @poonam_yadav24 taking 4 wickets for 19 runs. 🇮🇳 #AUSvIND 👍🏼@BCCIWomen @T20WorldCup @ICC
— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) February 21, 2020
Staggering performance by India's women. Australia were favourites for the tournament and this is a huge result. Top effort from the bowlers. How good was Deepti Sharma! But it was the little leggie Poonam Yadav who turned it around. #iccwomenst20worldcup
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2020
The biggest problem facing @poonam_yadav24 tonight was standing in front of @irbishi at the “Player of the Match” award! #T20WorldCup
— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) February 21, 2020
Match 1 done & dusted ✅. India get off to a flying start and continue their success against Australia in @ICC events. What a great start to the tournament!!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) February 21, 2020
Take your pick @TheShafaliVerma blitz, pocket dynamo @poonam_yadav24 4-19, #taniyabhatia behind the stumps, @ImHarmanpreet use of @shikhashauny in the 17th…#gamechangingmoments @BCCIWomen have made a statement 💪🏽 #ICCT20WorldCup #INDvAUS
— Mayanti Langer Binny (@MayantiLanger_B) February 21, 2020
India extends in winning streak over Australia in ICC events to three. Apart from Healy, no match for India's slow bowlers tonight. Poonam Yadav was brilliant. Will these two teams meet again in the final… or will India face someone else? Full time: India 132/4 Australia 115/10
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) February 21, 2020
India opening the World Cup like #globetrottersdown pic.twitter.com/ptuOdv4Qa3
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) February 21, 2020
Alex Blackwell says her approach to Yadav and her loopy wrong ‘uns is to play her from the crease. Aus batters take note. Well played India. Huge result to start the #WT20WC
— Chloe Saltau (@chloejane32) February 21, 2020
Spin To Win. Even in Australia. Winning the game by 17 runs while defending a modest total….that too against the Hosts and Defending Champions—Australia. Take a bow, #TeamIndia #T20WorldCup #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 21, 2020
Mad game this already. #AUSvIND
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) February 21, 2020
Brilliant bowling and captaincy @BCCIWomen 👏
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) February 21, 2020
