India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s golden arm had her aspect properly positioned to notch a first-ever win over Australia at stumps on day three of the one-off Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Australia clawed their technique to 5 for 233 on Saturday, a precarious 46-run lead with a day to play within the first Test between the 2 nations in India since 1984.

The spectacular Tahlia McGrath (73) anchored Australia’s second-innings fightback, sharing sturdy partnerships of 84, with Ellyse Perry (45), and 66 with captain Alyssa Healy (32) earlier than Harmanpreet (2-23) struck twice within the third session.

“We had a pretty big deficit to make up so we’re not where we’d like to be but I thought today our batting was more what we want it to be,” Australia coach Shelley Nitschke mentioned. “Tahlia McGrath in both innings was outstanding and applied herself well. If we get up to 150-200 [run lead], we’re right in this game. We know how well they bat in their home conditions and we still have to bowl really well if we can put a target on the board.”

Perry regarded in positive contact earlier than tickling offspinner Snesh Rana down leg-side to wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia shortly earlier than tea. New vice-captain McGrath, who crushed 50 off 56 balls in Australia’s first-innings 219, accomplished twin half-centuries with a extra measured knock within the second dig.

McGrath survived two lbw selections – given out twice, each overturned on evaluate – the second from Harmanpreet’s first supply of the match. Three balls later, she was gone, inside-edging the demon bowler on to her stumps. Healy, in her first match as everlasting captain, reined in her pure attacking instincts however none of her aggression.

The rival captains clashed briefly when Healy charged right down to hit the ball again to Harmanpreet, who aggressively fired it again within the route of the Australian. Healy, in attempting to guard herself, used her bat to deflect the throw and the ball scooted to the boundary.

Harmanpreet argued for obstructing the sphere however the umpires as an alternative awarded Healy with a 4. India had the final chuckle although, with Healy out lbw on the following ball after lacking an tried sweep.

Annabel Sutherland (12 not out) survived two assured lbw shouts earlier than scoring – trapped plumb however surviving when India opted to not evaluate, earlier than later overturning an out choice – and can resume on day 4 alongside Ash Gardner (seven).

Before McGrath and Perry joined forces, Australia misplaced each their openers in pointless vogue. A napping Beth Mooney (37) confirmed a whole lack of expertise, wandering from her crease and being run out by debutant Richa Ghosh at foolish level, earlier than Phoebe Litchfield (18) was bowled making an attempt to reverse-sweep Rana.

Earlier within the day, the vacationers lastly broke a irritating 122-run partnership – India’s highest ever for the eighth wicket – between Dedpti Sharma (78) and Pooja Vastrakar (47) because the hosts posted 406, their highest whole in opposition to Australia.