Big dance begins with a misstep from Australia as India take lead role

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Big dance begins with a misstep from Australia as India take lead role

By Malcolm Knox

Welcome to the Big Dance, said the signage, but the opening musical number for the T20 World Cup was confined to the margin between the boundary rope and the fence. The razzmatazz was for the foyer, while the main stage was reserved for the actors.

And the stars of the production, on this night, were Indian. Their Australian hosts played with smiles on their faces as if they were at a frolic, until, too late, they realised they had been lured into a fight.

Indian match winner Poonam Yadav celebrates a wicket in Sydney.

Indian match winner Poonam Yadav celebrates a wicket in Sydney.Credit: Getty

The confinement of the dancers to the fringe was a sure and encouraging sign that for all the sense of occasion, all the history being made, all the joy supplied by a vibrant crowd diverse in age, sex and nationality, what was about to take place was more (and less) than all that: not a dance but a cricket match. The sanctity of the playing surface put the ground back into the Sydney Showground.

The occasion brought out the gambler in Australia’s captain, Meg Lanning, who chose not only to bowl first after winning the toss but also to give the first over to off-spinner Molly Strano, who had not played at this level since 2017 and two days ago was not in the squad.

Strano’s first over was tight, but a dropped chance at mid-wicket ignited an explosive response from India’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and 16-year-old Shafali Verma. Australia’s premier fast bowlers, Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt, were treated harshly, and for an enchanted quarter-hour the world order transformed before our eyes.

Twenty20 is a moody beast, however. Fifteen minutes later, the heart of India’s batting – the openers and captain Harmanpreet Kaur – had been ripped out. The saviour for Australia was, as so often in recent times, left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who trapped Mandhana and lured Kaur into a wild charge resulting in a lucky stumping, automatic wickie style, off Alyssa Healy’s pads.

Taniya Bhatia of India stumps Annabel Sutherland.

Taniya Bhatia of India stumps Annabel Sutherland.Credit: AAP

Healy no doubt saw the signs in her change of fortune behind the stumps, and, in front of them, rediscovered the conviction and shot selection that made her so dominant at the top of the order. Chasing 133 to win, the Australian machine seemed to have recovered its balance.

But if they thought they had this match back under control, Australia were in for a nasty shock. India’s spin bowling lured Australian after Australian down the wicket, like dancers looking for partners who failed to show. First Lanning was beaten on the charge by Rajeshwari Gayakwad, but the turning point was the introduction of leg-spinner Poonam Yadav in the 10th over.

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Yadav, held back from the recent tri-series, was India’s own surprise weapon. She tossed up apparent donkey drops that the Australians found impossible to resist. Like her great predecessor Bishen Bedi, Yadav somehow caused the ball to be caught up in cobwebs, deceiving Healy into closing the face of the bat and then, in a captivating sequence of nine balls, luring Rachael Haynes, Perry and Jonassen into her snare. She had a chance at the wicket missed too, although it could be said that only the outstanding Taniya Bhatia could have got a glove to it. Throughout Yadav’s wonder spell, Bhatia proved a first-rate magician’s assistant.

Despite Ash Gardner’s best efforts, Australia never recovered. That turn in the world order, for one night at least, completed its revolution. Yadav spun the tournament onto its head. Australia, grim-faced, were left with plenty to ponder. This might be a World Cup with all its showbizzy appurtenances, but this game, standing on its own feet, was gripping at every moment, thrilling in its unfolding, and, in case it needs saying, easily the best game of international cricket seen here this summer.

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