Australia v India: women’s Test, day three – live! | Sport

23rd over: Australia 65-2 (Lanning 28, Perry 1) That really was a majestic over from Goswami. By the time she was dismissed, Healy barely knew what day/night it was.

Sensational bowling from Jhulan Goswami! She was brought back into the attack and immediately gave Healy a working-over. Her second ball beat the inside edge, the third hit Healy on the arm – and the fourth took the edge as Healy fished tentatively outside off stump. The wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia did the rest.

22nd over: Australia 63-1 (Healy 29, Lanning 28) Lanning is too early on a pull stroke and gloves it into her helmet. She composes herself and square drives the next ball for four, a stroke of effortless class. It looks like this game is drifting towards a draw, though there’s still plenty to play for. Healy and Lanning will be eyeing a maiden Test century for a start.

21st over: Australia 59-1 (Healy 29, Lanning 24) Australia have started to use their feet against Gayakwad. Lanning comes down the track to consecutive deliveries, though she can’t pierce the off-side field. A single off the hip brings Healy on strike, and she cracks a short ball through the covers for two more. Healy, who is batting very responsibly, has 29 from 62 balls, Lanning 24 from 48.

20th over: Australia 56-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 23) Another quiet over from Vastrakar, just a leg-bye from it.

19th over: Australia 55-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 23) Healy comes down the track to Gayakwad but can only drive the ball straight back to the bowler. Gayakward is bowling delightfully, and it feels like something is going to give pretty soon.

18th over: Australia 54-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 22) Vastrakar continues to tempt the batters outside off stump. Healy must be itching to belt one of these deliveries through the covers, but for now she’s a model of restraint. A maiden.

17th over: Australia 54-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 22) This is delightful stuff from Gayakward, an artist at work. Both batters look suspicious of Gayakwad’s changes in flight – but Lanning is still alert enough to pull a long hop for four. Gayakwad has bowled two poor balls in her first three overs, and both have been punished.

16th over: Australia 50-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 18) Lanning is dropped by Deepti Sharma! She chased a wide outswinger from Vastrakar and flashed it towards gully, where Sharma put down a sharp chance to her left. Lanning has another lucky escape off the next ball, when a big leading edge goes high in the air and lands between extra cover and mid-off.

15th over: Australia 48-1 (Healy 26, Lanning 17) Gayakwad is flighting the ball beautifully. She beats Lanning with a lovely delivery that drifts in and turns past the outside edge, and the rest of the over is defended watchfully.

14th over: Australia 48-1 (Healy 26, Lanning 17) Healy turns Vastrakar round the corner for a couple, then gets a thick edge that drops well short of point. That will encourage Vastrakar though, as a slightly thinner edge would have gone to slip.

13th over: Australia 44-1 (Healy 23, Lanning 16) A double change, with the left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad replacing Goswami. Her first ball is a loosener that Healy pulls for four but the second is right on the money and takes the inside edge as Healy pushes forward a little tentatively.

12th over: Australia 39-1 (Healy 18, Lanning 16) The young swing bowler Pooja Vastrakar comes into the attack. Her second ball is too straight and flicked for a couple by Lanning, and three singles keep Australia ticking over. They look pretty comfortable at the moment – there has been a bit of swing under the lights but nowhere near as much as India would have hoped.

11th over: Australia 34-1 (Healy 14, Lanning 15) A rare short ball from Goswami is pulled disdainfully to the boundary by Lanning, who looks in great touch. If India are to have any chance, they need to dismiss her early. Time for drinks.

10th over: Australia 29-1 (Healy 13, Lanning 11) Thanks Megan, hello everyone. As I was easing into the OBO chair, Meg Lanning got her second boundary with a high-class cover drive off Meghna Singh. And that’s all I’m going to say at this juncture.

9th over: Australia 25-1 (Lanning 7, Healy 13) Lanning is back on strike to face Goswami, who is up and about after that wicket of Mooney. She starts very well with a very good length ball, right on the stumps. Lanning is taking her time to get settled, she’d be very aware of not giving away another wicket. The patience pays off and she flicks one off her pads for four and takes the pressure off herself a bit more. To be honest, I could probably watch Goswami bowl to Lanning all day, it’s an incredible battle. Five runs from the over and I’m going to hand you over to the sensational Rob Smyth.

8th over: Australia 20-1 (Lanning 2, Healy 13) Lots of enthusiasm from the Indian supporters in the crowd. There aren’t a lot of them, but they’re making their presence felt. Healy keeps up her patient play – it’s unusual to see when we’re so used to her swashbuckling ODI and T20 innings. She won’t want to give away her wicket after losing Mooney early. A wider ball gives her an opportunity and she puts it away over the boundary – it’s a delightful shot through covers.

7th over: Australia 16-1 (Lanning 2, Healy 9) Thank goodness Perry being added to that list of players with 300 wickets and 5000 runs gives the commentators a chance to talk about men’s cricket, just what we needed. I’m looking forward to as much discussion of women’s cricket during the men’s season, that will be great to hear. Mooney’s wicket interrupts the reminiscence and we’re back to the game at hand with Lanning at the crease. She gets off the mark on the last ball of the over, nearly getting it over the rope, but it’s fielded nicely.

The breakthrough from Goswami, she got Mooney playing all around the ball before those stumps lit up.

6th over: Australia 14-0 (Mooney 4, Healy 9) Here’s Singh again and it’s a very good short ball on the second ball of the over from her. Healy takes a swing at it, but luckily for her she doesn’t get an edge. She tries to replicate it but gives away a wide and then Healy gets a single on the next ball. A run out chance from Mandhana – a direct hit would have sent Healy back to the change room, but it misses the stumps.

5th over: Australia 11-0 (Mooney 3, Healy 8) Goswami is very consistent so far, her pitch map would be in trouble for lack of social distancing if it was wandering around in Sydney or Melbourne. Mooney grabs another quick single and then Healy works one nicely to backward square leg to rotate the strike again.

4th over: Australia 9-0 (Mooney 2, Healy 7) A beautiful sunset over Metricon this evening, much nicer scenes than we’ve had at this time for the past two nights. Mooney gets bat on ball early in the over and is very keen to push for a quick single. She’s known for being quick between the wickets and she’s brought the intent from the ODIs into the Test as well. It’s a fascinating contest at the moment, these two bowlers are asking a lot of questions and the batters are determined to answer them as often as possible.

3rd over: Australia 8-0 (Mooney 1, Healy 7) Goswami continues to bowl very full and doesn’t want to give Healy any room to move. There’s a big shout for LBW on the second ball, but the umpire isn’t interested, it’s outside the line. Healy is showing good patience, she looks much more settled than she did against Goswami in the ODIs, content to wait for her opportunities. It’s a maiden over from Goswami.

2nd over: Australia 8-0 (Mooney 1, Healy 7) Singh opens the bowling from the other end and Mooney gets her first chance to face up. It only takes her until the second ball of the over to get off the mark. There’s definite intent from both batters from the start. They’re not taking big risks, but they’re not on the defence either. India are pushing Healy right back in her crease, but she waits it out and doesn’t let it frustrate her and finds her opportunity eventually.

1st over: Australia 4-0 (Mooney 0, Healy 4) Here we go, India have Australia batting under lights and Goswami takes the first over. She’s picking up where she left off in the ODIs, with some very good line and length, cramping Healy right up in her crease. Healy gets her opportunity when Goswami throws in a half volley outside off stump and Healy will take that every time.

Wow, this was super quick from Stella Campbell when she dismissed Sharma.

This is apparently the first time a touring women’s Test team has declared in Australia since 1984. So the first time in my lifetime, which is fun. The declaration probably came a little earlier than I was expecting – after they came back in after dinner I thought they’d go for a few more runs, especially with Goswami and Singh swinging a bit more freely. But it looks like they don’t want to tire out their two fast bowlers, so they call it a day and we’re ready for Australia to bat.

145th over: India 377-8 (Goswami 7, Singh 2) Perry starts the over with an absolute peach of a ball, that’s very unlucky not to get her wicket 301. It’s a more exciting phase of the game now, with pace from both ends and two tail enders looking to just make runs any way they can. Goswami gets a very unconventional boundary, getting herself all tangled up and swiping wildly over her head and it somehow manages to find the rope. Her next shot is more controlled, but Brown fields it easily on the boundary. Another LBW appeal on the second last ball of the over, but it’s not a convincing one. Singh steps away and gives herself a bit of room on the last with a big swing, but it’s just a single.

144th over: India 370-8 (Goswami 2, Singh 0) Campbell returns and gets it a little too full and wide to Sharma, who drives it back past the bowler for four immediately. Campbell follows it up with a very good short ball, a little slower than usual, and she picks up an uncontrolled top edge, but no one’s underneath and it races away for another four. I’m hesitant to say that Sharma is now in attacking mode, because I’ve thought that a few times before and she’s gone back in her shell. But it doesn’t matter too much anyway because Campbell gets her LBW next ball and Meghna Singh comes to the crease. Campbell welcomes her with a very good length ball that stays quite low and Singh looks uncomfortable with the speed.

Sharma shows some intent in this over and smacks Campbell for consecutive boundaries, but Campbell gets the last laugh and removes the set batter.

143rd over: India 361-7 (Goswami 2, Sharma 57) We started this over before dinner and Perry seemed to know it was her time to strike. India certainly didn’t want to lose a wicket and there were some questions over whether India would declare during the break. Perry may have thrown a spanner in the works by taking a wicket there, triggering the dinner break, it looks like India want to bat a few more overs and put some more runs on the board. Goswami starts cautiously, so it’s not going to be an all out assault from ball one. But after a couple of balls she gets off the mark with a thick outside edge.

And if you’re in the mood for a bit more Ellyse Perry before we return from the break, here’s a nice little montage of some of the big highlights from her 300 wickets.

If you missed Perry’s 300th wicket and Mooney’s classic catch that expedited it, you should definitely watch this video at least 5-10 times during this dinner break.

A very interesting first session today. I think everyone watching (including me) was bouncing back and forth around whether India were about to accelerate, desperately looking for signals in body language and shots. They were keeping their cards very close to their chest though and now we wait and see whether they will declare during the dinner break. It seems unlikely, especially with that late wicket from Perry, but stranger things have happened in this sport. From all reports the Australians are desperate to bat and perhaps that is influencing Mithali Raj’s thinking – frustrate them in the field for as long as possible and maybe they’ll come out to bat full of pent up rage and throw their wickets away?

Perry gets her 300th wicket for Australia with a brilliant diving catch by Mooney. We’re only two balls into the over, but the wicket serves as a good break in time and we’re off for dinner now.

142nd over: India 358-6 (Vastrakar 13, Sharma 57) Another over for Gardner and it’s a controlled start. India are looking very comfortable right now, they appear to be happy to bat this out and make sure they’re no chance of a loss.

141st over: India 356-6 (Vastrakar 12, Sharma 56) Perry is back into the attack from the other end, she’ll be looking to take a wicket before the dinner break, which isn’t far away. She’s not quite hitting her line and length as well as she was in her last spell, but she’s still very economical. Late in the over she looks like she’s found her rhythm again, her next over will be interesting.

140th over: India 355-6 (Vastrakar 11, Sharma 56) Gardner returns to the attack for her 29th over of the match. Vastrakar smashes one straight back at her and Gardner puts it down. She’ll be very disappointed with that, it’s definitely a huge missed opportunity. Perhaps a bit rattled by that, Gardner bowls one a little too wide and right in Sharma’s hitting zone and she slog sweeps it for four.

139th over: India 350-6 (Vastrakar 10, Sharma 52) Campbell has brought her line in a touch and it looks more like drawing in the batters. Sharma picks one off with a nice square drive that doesn’t go all the way to the boundary, but it’s a nice shot. It shouldn’t worry Campbell too much though, she’s better off making them play shots than letting them defend right now.

138th over: India 348-6 (Vastrakar 10, Sharma 50) Wareham is putting some good flight on the ball, trying to tempt the batters into a loose shot, but Vastrakar takes her time and waits for one she can hit and she drives it down past long off for four. Finally Sharma gets her chance for her half century and she takes it.

It’s taken her a while to get off 49, but she plays one around the corner to third and brings it up at last.

137th over: India 342-6 (Vastrakar 5, Sharma 49) Campbell continues and she’s still getting up around 120km/hr and Sharma is still playing it very safe. Campbell is being creative in her approaches, she doesn’t look like it’s only her second game for Australia and her first Test.

136th over: India 342-6 (Vastrakar 5, Sharma 49) Sharma has clearly seen enough of Wareham now and knows what she wants to do, sweeping strongly for a boundary from the first ball of the over. She cuts it hard past cover a couple of balls later, but it’s just a single and she’s still one short of her 50.

135th over: India 337-6 (Vastrakar 5, Sharma 44) Campbell starts the over beautifully, just missing Sharma’s outside edge. Sharma goes for a big pull shot off the second ball, but she doesn’t get hold of it and it’s just a single. Campbell comes around the wicket later in the over to change things up a little. She then throws in a short ball, she’s determined not to let them settle into her over at all. A short ball on the last nearly gets Vastrakar’s wicket – Campbell is making things happen out there.

134th over: India 334-6 (Vastrakar 4, Sharma 42) Finally Wareham is into the attack – her first over for the day and her sixth for the Test so far. What can she do to get this match moving? Vastrakar plays a couple of aggressive shots early, but she sends them straight to the field. Wareham is getting some good flight on the ball and it’s definitely giving the batters something new to think about.

133rd over: India 334-6 (Vastrakar 4, Sharma 42) If I sound like I keep changing my mind about whether India are attacking or not, it’s because I am. Every so often it looks like they’re about to take the game on and go for a win they back off again, I can’t quite get a grasp of what they’re thinking right now. Campbell is still bowling quite wide outside off stump – I’m not sure the batters are going to be lured into swiping at those deliveries.

132nd over: India 334-6 (Vastrakar 4, Sharma 42) Sharma starts to push the pace a little bit, she sends one almost all the way to the rope, just saved by Gardner on the boundary. She takes the next ball on and this time does manage to get it over the boundary.

131st over: India 327-6 (Vastrakar 4, Sharma 35) Campbell is showing plenty of intent and still pushing through her very fast deliveries. She’s getting them very wide outside off stump this over, but it’s not luring Sharma in, she’s happy to let those ones go. Finally she gets one in her zone and pulls it nicely, but it’s only a single. Vastrakar isn’t interested in taking any chances either and ducks under the final ball of the over.

130th over: India 326-6 (Vastrakar 4, Sharma 34) Sharma is really giving Vastrakar every opportunity to get off the mark, getting her on strike early in each over, but Vastrakar isn’t in any hurry. Finally she finds her opportunity and drives one very straight back past the bowler and over the boundary for four.

129th over: India 321-6 (Vastrakar 0, Sharma 33) Campbell starts her second over of the day and Sharma escapes the strike very quickly. Campbell is getting some very fast deliveries down the pitch. There’s a big appeal for caught behind from a short ball, but the umpire turns it down and it looks to have just flown over the edge of the bat.

128th over: India 320-6 (Vastrakar 0, Sharma 32) After the excitement of that over, we’re back to the Molineux v Sharma stalemate, lots of very nice line and length balls and patient defensive shots. There’s a bit of hurry on the fourth with a quick single taken and Campbell with a good throw at the stumps. Molineux comes around the stumps to Vastrakar and restricts her well.

127th over: India 319-6 (Vastrakar 0, Sharma 31) Campbell comes into the attack and Sharma takes a single immediately, but Bhatia isn’t so lucky and departs on the second ball of the over with a little outside edge going through to Healy. Campbell is getting some nice shape and is bowling over 120km/hr so she’s adding some spice to this session. She throws in an aggressive short ball late in the over that troubles Vastrakar a little, she doesn’t look overly comfortable with the speed.

Well what a great bowling change! Campbell gets a quick ball in and Bhatia nicks it through to the keeper and finally Australia have the wicket they’ve been looking for.