Batting let India down as soon as once more as they collapsed like a pack of playing cards to undergo a 44-run loss to Australia in a low-scoring Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match in Cape Town on Monday. Asked to discipline, the Indian bowlers blew away the Australian prime order however tail-enders Georgia Wareham (32) and Jess Jonassen’s (22) unbeaten 50-run partnership powered Australia to 129 for 8. In reply, the Indian batters had been skittled out for 85 in 15 overs.

It was the second consecutive time that batting has let down India. The ‘Women in Blue’ had suffered an analogous collapse within the Tri-Series remaining final week in opposition to South Africa. Pacer Darcie Brown (4/17) was the wrecker-in-chief as she cleaned up the Indian prime order, taking the important scalps of Shafali Verma (2), Smriti Mandhana (0) and Richa Ghosh (5).

The woeful run of Jemimah Rodrigues, who opened the innings alongside Shafali, continued as she was out on nought whereas skipper Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t bat.

Harleen Doel (12) confirmed some intent, hitting two fours earlier than succumbing to a run out whereas Deepti Sharma was the highest scorer because the all-rounder remained unbeaten on 19. She may have taken India over the road had somebody stayed along with her until the tip.

Earlier, veteran pacer Shikha Pandey (2/9) struck in her first two overs to ship Australia skipper Meg Lanning (0) and Tahlia McGrath (2) packing.

A run out by Radha Yadav spelt the tip of Ellyse Perry (1) as Australia had been reeling at 10 for 3. Ash Gardner (22) and Beth Mooney (28) supplied some resistance however Pooja Vastrakar (2/16) and Radha Yadav (2/22) ran via the center order.

Renuka Singh, who had an off day, was the costliest bowler for India, giving freely 39 runs in three overs.

But the Indians could not break the partnership between Wareham and Jonassen who shared 5 fours and three sixes between them.

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