CWG 2022: Gardner's 52* Helps Australia Beat India By 3 Wickets In Opening Match

Gardner's fifty helped Australia clinch a win in the first match against India after Renuka Singh's 4-fer in the powerplay.

Cricket Image for CWG 2022: Gardner's 52* Helps Australia Beat India By 3 Wickets In Opening Match (Image Source: AFP)

INDW vs AUSW - In the opening match of the Commonwealth Games 2022, World Champions Australia made a great comeback in their batting, defeating India by 3 wickets with an over remaining while chasing a target of 155.

Australia were off to a shaky start as Renuka Singh's 4-fer inside the powerplay restricted them to 34/4 in 4.1 overs. Rachel Haynes was then dismissed 3 overs later by Deepti Sharma. 

However, Ashleigh Gardner and Grace Harris etched a partnership of 51 runs in 34 balls for the 6th wicket, putting the Australian team on track to victory. Grace Harris was dismissed by Meghna Singh in the 13th over after scoring 37 runs off 20 balls.

Ashleigh Gardner held the other end and went on to etch an unbeaten partnership of 47 runs in 28 balls with Alana King for the 8th wicket, taking the Australian team to victory. Gardner remained not out after scoring 52 runs in 35 balls with 9 fours. 

For Team India, Renuka Singh picked up 4 wikets, Deepti Sharma grabbed 2 wickets while Meghna Singh managed 1 wicket. 

In the first innings, Australian spinner Jess Jonassen picked up a 4-fer while captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a fabulous fifty as India posted 154/8 in 20 overs against Australia in the opening match of Common Wealth Games 2022.

For India, captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 52 runs off 34 balls with 8 fours & a six before getting dismissed in the last over. Opener Shafali Verma scored 48 runs off 33 balls with 9 fours. 

Spinner Jess Jonassen picked up 4 wickets in her 4 overs, giving away just 22 runs. Mega Schutt also picked up 2 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs. Darcie Brown also grabbed a wicket. 

Australia Win!

What A Run Chase By Aussies!#CWG22 #CommonwealthGames #Cheer4India #Australia pic.twitter.com/LlaTmhzVNk

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) July 29, 2022

Earlier, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss & opted to bat first against Australia in the 1st match of the Commonwealth Games. This match is being played at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Brief Score:

India - 154/8 (Harmanpreet - 52(34), Jonassen - 4/22)
Australia - 157/7 in 19 overs (Gardner - 52*(35), Renuka - 4/18)