Alana kings: Cricket News & Match Updates

After Jemimah Rodrigues: Half-centuries from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Pratika Rawal carried India to 251/9 in their 50 overs against Australia in the second ODI of the women’s multi-format series at the Bellerive Oval on Friday. The total, though, may prove to be below-par on a benign surface that offered little assistance to the bowlers.

While Harmanpreet top-scored with 54 off 70 balls, Pratika made 52 off 81 deliveries. For Australia, Annabel Sutherland, Alana Kings and Ashleigh Gardner claimed two wickets apiece while keeping the scoring rate firmly in check and never allowing India's batters to fully cut loose.

The innings followed a familiar pattern of promise and frustration for India – Pratika and Smriti Mandhana laid a solid foundation by putting on 78 runs in the first 16 overs before the middle order wobbled. A late flourish of 73 runs off the final 10 overs, driven largely by Harmanpreet's composed fifty and a blistering cameo from debutant Vaishnavi Sharma helped India cross the 250-mark.   Read More...