AUS-W vs IND-W

10:20 PM local time, 4:50 PM IST: That winds it up from Sydney with a 1-0 lead for India in the 3-match T20 series and a 2-0 lead in terms of points in the overall multi-format series. The action will now move the the capital city of Canberra for the second T20I on Thursday (Feb 19). So, the players have a nice break in between to get their feet up. We don't though, the cricket season keeps giving, make sure you hop on to the live coverage of the T20 World Cup where Namibia are chasing down 200 against USA in Chennai before the caravan moves to Colombo for the marquee clash between India and Pakistan where all the eyes will be towards the sky. From here, this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Dartim Ray and Bidipto Datta. Cheers!

10:15 PM local time (4:45 PM IST): India-W have won by 21 runs (under DLS)

Shefali Verma - 21 (11)I Arundhati Reddy - 4/22
Georgia Wareham  - 30 (19) I Sophie Molineux - 1/13

COMFORTABLE WIN FOR INDIA-W! India-W have outclassed Australia-W at the SCG! They tame the home side on the back of a dominating 21-run win and take an early 1-0 lead in this three-match series. The Indian bowlers, featuring Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, and Sree Charani, stunned the Australian batters earlier in the piece. The hosts were caught on the back foot and experienced a shocking collapse which saw them sink for only 133. The Australian bowlers went searching for early wickets, but Mandhana (16 off 17) and Verma ensured that the Indian innings commenced in a controlled fashion. The bowling was far too wayward from Australia initially, which allowed the Indian openers to cash in effortlessly.

Molineux had an impactful outing with the ball. She struck with her very first ball of her spell, dismissing a well-set Verma for 21. But India kept’s milking boundaries at will. Rodrigues (9 off 3) scored freely on both sides of the wicket and India looked well on course before the heaves opened up and made it impossible for us to resume. India were 21 runs ahead at the time of the interruption, and they went on to win the game by the same margin under DLS.

10:15 PM local time, 4:45 PM IST: There comes the inevitable, the rain has forced the match to be called off and as a result India win this first T20I by 21 runs via DLS method and take a 1-0 lead in this 3-match T20I series

Aditya: "What if the match is washed out? Will India win by DLS or will it be a tie?"
India will be comprehensive winners if there is no more play since they are well in front of the DLS score, let's hope that we get play though

9:39 PM local time (4:09 PM IST): Ohh dear! The dreadful rain has arrived! It's bucketing down at the SCG, and the players rush off the field. We will have a delay here, folks! But we rest assured, as India are well and truly ahead on DLS

5.1 Kim Garth to Jemimah Rodrigues, EASY PICKINGS, brings up India's 50! Very full, slding down into the pads and Jemi just clips it away behind square and the fielder at deep square leg fails to keep it in even with the big dive to her right. Looks like the rain has gotten heavier, the umpires have called for the covers and the players are walking off.

Don't think India will be too fazed by Varma's dismissal. India are continuing to find the odd boundaries. But the rain is just starting to make its presence felt at the SCG. India are currently way ahead in DLS. 

4.6 Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, tossed up, on the fuller side around off, Smriti pushes it to mid-off from the front foot. No run. We will have a winner now whatever happens!

4.5 Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR MORE, talk about threading the needle! Slightly overpitched outside off, Smriti leans in on it and caresses it between extra cover and mid-off who fail to get a hand on it

4.4 Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Over the wicket to the lefty, offers a bit of a freebie. Short one on the pads, Smriti pikcs it up in front of square and beats Perry at deep mid-wicket.

4.3 Sophie Molineux to Jemimah Rodrigues, much better from Molineux, tossed up full at the stumps, Jemi leans forward and pushes it towards cover for a single

4.2 Sophie Molineux to Jemimah Rodrigues, short and wide, can't bowl there to Jemi! She jumps back and bisects point and short third with the backcut. Four for her on her first ball