Vaishnavi’s six-for puts India A in driver’s seat against Australia A

September 30, 2026
8:16 pm

India A Women 364 (Tanisha 92, Prasad 91, Mills 4-98, Knott 3-82) and 134 for 2 (Punia 59, Bhatia 33*, Mills 2-31) lead Australia A Women 176 (Trenaman 44, Wilson 35, Vaishnavi 6-52, Prasad 2-27) by 322 runs

Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma continued her wicket-taking spree against Australia A Women by bagging 6 for 52 on day two of the unofficial Test in Mohali. That handed India A Women a massive 188-run first-innings lead after they were bowled out for 364 early in the day, as she restricted the visitors’ reply to 176.

By the end of the day, India A had grown their overall lead to 322, as Priya Punia‘s half-century in the second innings helped build on the huge first-innings advantage.

After claiming two wickets in the only T20 and eight in the three one-dayers in the ongoing series, Vaishnavi triggered Australia A’s collapse in the four-day game. She bagged six of the last eight wickets to fall, as they couldn’t build on a solid start provided by their openers.

Offspinner Niki Prasad dismissed Tahlia Wilson to break a 66-run first-wicket stand with Rachel Trenaman, who also fell to Prasad nine overs later.

Vaishnavi then combined with fellow left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay to run through the middle and lower orders. Upadhyay got two wickets, as Australia A lost 5 for 28.

India A started on 351 for 9, and the last pair of Prasad and Upadhyay added another 13 runs. Prasad missed out on a century when she was last out for 91, as offspinner Lilly Mills grabbed her fourth wicket.

In response, Australia A’s batters couldn’t capitalise on a good start, before it was the bowlers’ turn to feel the heat. Punia added 60 with Shubha Satheesh and 74 with Yastika Bhatia to propel India A to 134 for 2 at stumps. She was dismissed for 59 in the last over of the day, with Mills striking both times for Australia A.