36th over: India 183-4 (Raj 8, Vastrakar 2) Another good Campbell over goes for just two singles. India are in quicksand and storing up problems for the death overs.

35th over: India 181-4 (Raj 7, Vastrakar 1) Sutherland concedes only a single. Australia have wrestled the upper hand in Mackay.

34th over: India 180-4 (Raj 7, Vastrakar 0) A well-earned debut ODI wicket for Stella Campbell, and she has Molly Strano to thank for it. It seems pretty clear that if Australia go on to win this match it will be the disparity in fielding as much as anything that will be the determining factor.

After 12 deliveries of nothing much Raj decides to go over mid-on, and she only just clears Sutherland’s leap. It does bring her four though, and gets her vital innings into motion. Bhatia shows her skipper how it’s done, swivelling with superb timing to pull Campbell for a crisp boundary.

But she’s gone next ball! That feels like a decisive moment in this contest. Bhatia was flying, but she tried to go big again on the on-side, but on this occasion can only get a thick edge that flies down to fine-leg where Molly Strano runs in, dives forward, and pouches a superb momentum-changing catch. Great bowling too, Campbell shifting from over to around the wicket but landing the ball in near identical places, provoking the error.

33rd over: India 171-3 (Bhatia 60, Raj 2) Bhatia is on strike for the start of Sutherland’s over, and she shows great creativity with a flick over her shoulder for two. A single brings Raj to the crease, and with that the field comes in to crowd out any run-scoring opportunities, and more dot-balls are eaten up before a single from the last ball. Raj is two from 11.

32nd over: India 166-3 (Bhatia 57, Raj 1) Lanning going for the throat with the recall of Campbell’s pace to the attack. The debutant begins with five dots to Raj, a famously slow starter, but even so, in this match situation it’s inviting pressure – especially when rotating the strike would allow the in-form Bhatia to control the pace of the game.

31st over: India 166-3 (Bhatia 57, Raj 1) A lot of pressure now on the shoulders of Mithali Raj, who has dropped herself down to No 5. A misfield allows her to get off the mark, and that brings Bhatia on strike, who steps to off and whips a back 0f a length delivery from Sutherland over square leg and away for four, beating Perry’s dive on the rope.

One brings two for Australia! Sutherland pitches the ball up and Ghosh leisurely flicks the ball straight Garnder’s safe hands at square-leg. Game on again in Mackay.

30th over: India 160-2 (Bhatia 51, Ghosh 0) Just the one run, and the wicket, from the Molineux over Australia desperately needed.

Huge wicket for Australia! Verma, who may have been tiring, aims a huge mow at a length Molineux delivery, plays all around it, and finds her off stump nudged backwards. Superb innings from India’s opener that has set her side up beautifully.

29th over: India 159-1 (Verma 56, Bhatia 51) Annabel Sutherland is into the attack belatedly for Australia, but the runs keep flowing for India, four of them from a delicate Verma glance for four to fine-leg.

More bad news for Australia. Their list of absentees now includes Beth Mooney. The Test XI could soon involve a late ring-around.

28th over: India 153-1 (Verma 51, Bhatia 50) No pressure at all from the field on Verma on 49 so the Indian opener casually dabs a single to bring up her half-century. It’s a similar story for Bhatia who milks Molineux to reach her milestone. Two superb knocks that have put India firmly in control.

27th over: India 150-1 (Verma 49, Bhatia 49) Lanning knows she needs to make something happen, so she recalls McGrath. Bhatia responds superbly with a muscular thwack to the midwicket boundary. The bowler then leaks through the legside, and with Healy up to the stumps it’s the latest five-wide effort of a messy afternoon for Australia’s attack. 30 extras already, in just 27 overs!

26th over: India 139-1 (Verma 48, Bhatia 44) Bhatia gets away with one, trying to hit Molineux with the spin over cow corner, but she doesn’t get all of it and the ball grazes Darlington’s fingertips at wide mid-on, but the catch doesn’t stick and India enjoy an eight-run over.

25th over: India 131-1 (Verma 48, Bhatia 37) Verma is looking to assert herself now that her eye is in, but it’s leading to a couple of rash strokes. After surviving a drop off Molineux she is almost bowled around her legs by Carey. Bhatia is demonstrating more control, typified by a beautiful back cut for four. At the halfway mark of the run chase India are cruising.

24th over: India 123-1 (Verma 46, Bhatia 32) The scoreboard continues to tick over, helped along by a finely-swept four from Shafali Verma as she approaches 50. But the Indian opener almost doesn’t make it to her milestone, swiping Molineux across the line and offering a tough catch to the diving Sutherland at midwicket, but she can’t hold on and Verma survives.

23rd over: India 117-1 (Verma 41, Bhatia 31) The first Indian misstep for a while with Verma swiping across the line to Carey, missing, and fortunate the delivery whistles past off stump instead of clattering into it. Bhatia doesn’t dwell on the near miss, clubbing Carey off a length back down the ground for four. Australia need to make something happen here, it’s all very routine for India at the moment.

22nd over: India 110-1 (Verma 40, Bhatia 25) Shot! Verma only picks up two for it, but she deserves more for creaming Molineux through extra-cover with an elegant drive. The runs continue to flow for India and chances are hand to come by for Australia. We’re heading for another close finish.

21st over: India 105-1 (Verma 37, Bhatia 24) Nicola Carey is introduced for the first time today and she keeps things tight with her right-arm medium pace. There’s a sniff of a run out opportunity but Healy can’t hit the target with an ambitious flick.

20th over: India 101-1 (Verma 35, Bhatia 23) Unsurprisingly, Lanning returns to Molineux to assert some control, but Bhatia begins the spell with a thick-edge for four. A far more deliberate stroke to the same region earns her two more.

19th over: India 94-1 (Verma 35, Bhatia 16) India are in their groove now and Australia need to shake things up a bit. Verma nails a sweep, a forceful backfoot punch, and a lofted straight drive, while Bhatia unfurls a flowing shot through the covers. Gardner helpless that over to stem the flow of runs.

In even worse news for Australia, Rachael Haynes is out of the remainder of the game – and immediately in doubt for the Test – with a hamstring injury.

18th over: India 84-1 (Verma 28, Bhatia 13) I like Bhatia’s approach. She’s taking Australia on here, not recklessly, but she’s refusing to take a backward step. The pacy Campbell is slipping in a shorter ball or two every over and Bhatia is game for the challenge, pulling uppishly for a couple.

17th over: India 81-1 (Verma 27, Bhatia 11) Gardner’s battle with Bhatia is a good one. The Indian batter is keen to attack, but Gardner’s variations are challenging to line up. Eventually Bhatia gets plenty of wood to one and it takes a bobble on a neighbouring pitch that beats the field on its way to the rope. India building nicely.

16th over: India 77-1 (Verma 27, Bhatia 7) Campbell continues and she almost does Verma with a length delivery that barely bounces. India’s opener then ties herself into the shape of a pretzel in the process of missing an awkward flick to leg from well outside off stump. Five dots builds up the pressure but Verma releases it in an instance, clearing her front leg and slapping a full half-volley through long-off.

15th over: India 73-1 (Verma 23, Bhatia 7) Gardner continues after drinks and Bhatia gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts majestically over long-on for a one-bounce four. She is otherwise respectful of Gardner’s flight.

14th over: India 69-1 (Verma 23, Bhatia 3) Campbell’s radar wanders a little this over, but she does well to retain focus and end the spell strongly. Verma now has her eye in and she’s not averse to the pace of the ball coming onto the bat.

13th over: India 65-1 (Verma 22, Bhatia 2) Gardner backs up her excellent opening over with another tight set of six.

Well, as a Victorian in lockdown, I would say the blue sky, the crowds, and occasional cutaways to the glorious Queensland scenery.

12th over: India 64-1 (Verma 21, Bhatia 2) With the opening partnership broken Molineux is held back and replaced by debutant Stella Campbell. She has a beautiful fluid action and a strong shoulder, pushing 120kph on a good length. She beats Bhatia for pace, but India’s No 3 gets off the mark with a confident pull for two. Very promising debut over from Campbell.

11th over: India 60-1 (Verma 20, Bhatia 0) The introduction of spin has changed the complexion of this innings. Excellent opening overs from Molineux and Gardner. Pressure back on India to retain their focus.

It’s a double change, with Ash Gardner asked to bowl her right-arm spin around the wicket to Mandhana. She begins with a beauty that is cut fine just over the gloves of Healy and away for four. But Gardner soon exacts her revenge. India’s opener does get to the pitch for a lofted offside drive and a loopy thick edge clears the infield, only for Sutherland to make ground quickly and take a brilliant catch over her left shoulder. The difference in fielding quality between these sides could well be the difference today.

10th over: India 55-0 (Verma 19, Mandhana 18) First bowling change of the afternoon with Sophie Molineux’s left-arm spin called upon. She’s approaching from around the wicket, spinning the ball away from Verma, and is immediately in the action. A teasing maiden features a leading edge that drops just short of gully, and a fiercely struck drive that offered a challenging return catch with Molineux diving full length. A noticeable change in intensity that over.

9th over: India 55-0 (Verma 19, Mandhana 18) More wides against Perry’s figures with three legside swingers to the left-handed Mandhana, the second of which trundles all the way to the rope. The same portion of manila hemp is engaged soon afterwards with another legside delivery helped on its way with a fine glance. India have galloped into the box seat without breaking sweat.

8th over: India 44-0 (Verma 19, Mandhana 14) India have been largely untroubled in these early overs and Mandhana begins to cash in with a serene cover drive for four that races off the face of her bat.

7th over: India 37-0 (Verma 18, Mandhana 8) Better from Perry, whose radar is starting to settle down. She almost outfoxes Verma with an outswinging yorker that is close to being played on. Again Australia’s ground fielding backs up the tight bowling.

6th over: India 36-0 (Verma 18, Mandhana 7) McGrath continues her tight line and length to Verma, and she’s backed up by some excellent fielding. Five dots provoke a bold stroke in response and it’s a well-timed drive over extra-cover that’s hauled in for three.

5th over: India 34-0 (Verma 16, Mandhana 7) Perry is still struggling to control her line with the amount of swing she’s finding, and India’s left-right opening combination. Verma and Mandhana easing into their work nicely.

4th over: India 28-0 (Verma 15, Mandhana 4) McGrath with a tighter fourth-stump line and a length just short of good. She keeps India’s openers honest and almost benefits from a leading edge but the false shot doesn’t carry to the offside ring fielders.

3rd over: India 25-0 (Verma 14, Mandhana 2) Perry again finds extravagant movement in the air, but she begins the over bowling to the left-handed Mandhana, which means four wides down the legside. Inida pick up four more when the inswinger beats Verma between bat and pad but Healy is beaten by the low bounce and concedes some ugly byes. Another hooping wide continues Perry’s frustrating over, and that is magnified further when Verma slashes a very healthy edge that goes for another four, this time low between keeper and slip. Maybe a half-chance? Maybe not. India off to a flyer despite not very much coming off the middle of the bat.

2nd over: India 10-0 (Verma 6, Mandhana 1) Tahlia McGrath shares the new ball but she starts with a wayward line, conceding a couple of legside wides and a four through square-leg. India’s first boundary was courtesy of Verma flicking her wrists in front of her front pad with exquisite timing.

1st over: India 1-0 (Verma 0, Mandhana 0) Ellyse Perry opens the bowling for Australia and she’s quickly onto a good line and length with some nice shape away from the right-handed Shafali Verma. That shape got a bit too shapey out of the hand for a wide, but that’s the only run from an over that ends with a swish and miss outside off. Good start for Australia.

The teams are back out in the middle under a clear blue Mackay sky.

50th over: Australia 265-9 (Carey 12, Campbell 0) On debut, Stella Campbell gets to come to the middle with her gear on, though she won’t get to face a ball. One left in the innings, and she gets to run to the striker’s end after Carey hits it to cover.

That wasn’t much of a throw from Gayakwad at long-on, well wide of the non-striker’s stumps, but the stretchy arms of Goswami are able to gather it wide of her body on one side, then go all the way to the stumps on the other side of her body to beat Molineux by an inch as the Australians attempt to run two from a Carey whack down the ground.

Annabel Sutherland does her job, goes for it first ball, flicking nicely off her pads from Goswami but airborne to midwicket.