GOLD COAST: Shafali Verma struck a good half century to take India to 106 for two in their second innings at tea on the fourth day of the one-off women’s day-night test against Australia here on Sunday.
With 41 overs remaining in the game and a 242 run lead, it remains to be seen whether India comes out to beat or declare one final push for an unlikely win against Australia.
First inning centurion Smriti Mandhana (31) fell into the depths of Ashleigh Garnder with a fantastic catch. Yastika Bhatia (3) was then promoted to third to increase her goalscoring rate, but could only hold 12 balls.

At the break, Shafali and Punam Raut (16 not from 34) were in midfield.
In the first session, Indian pacemakers made the new pink ball before a pressured Australia made an interesting statement at 241 for nine.
Ellyse Perry (68 not out) and Gardner (51) continued the day at 143 for three and shared a total of 89 runs before Indian pacemakers triggered the blow collapse and Australia reduced from 208 for four to 240 for nine.
In a seeming attempt to move the game forward, Meg Lanning declared the innings before her team could be eliminated.
India ended up with a 136-run lead.
After Deepti got rid of Sharma Gardner, debutante Meghna Singh re-troubled thugs with her out swingers when India took four wickets after the new ball was taken over in the 81st over.
Pooja Vastrakar and Jhulan Goswami also scored at the finish.

With nearly 70 overs remaining in the game, the tie still seems like the most likely outcome after losing a lot of time to rain on the first two days.
Perry, who averages over 78 in test cricket, could have been out up to three times, but luck was on her side. While one was a near LBW scream, she was also dropped twice.
Meghna took her Maidenwicket with a beautiful out-swinger to leave Annabel Sutherland behind. Her second wicket was Sophie Molineux, who was banned from Meghan’s in-swinger to be left-handed.
Pooja had Georgia Wareham behind before Offie Deepti Sharma took her second wicket of the day with an armball to fire Darcie Brown.
Indian pacemakers have arched better than their Australian counterparts and have consistently hit the corridor of uncertainty for the rackets.
Short notes
India women: 377 for 8 in 145 overs and 106/2 in 30 overs (Shafali Verma with 51 batting; Ashleigh Garder 1/14)
Australia women: 241 declared for 9 in 96.4 overs (Ellyse Perry 68, Jhulan Goswami 2/33, Pooja Vastrakar 3/49)