Bolton's unbeaten ton floors India Women

Nicole Bolton’s unbeaten hundred helped Australia Women thrash India by 8 wickets in the first ODI of the ICC Women’s Championship in Vadodara.

Nicole Bolton’s unbeaten hundred helped Australia Women thrash India by 8 wickets in the first ODI of the ICC Women’s Championship in Vadodara.

Chasing a paltry target of 201, Australia reached home in 32.1 overs in what was a dominating display of strokeplay led by opener Bolton. Bolton remained unbeaten on 100 off just 101 balls, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers, who seemed short of answers.

Australia were off to flying start courtesy Bolton and Healy. Healy’s 29-ball 38 run knock was brought to an end by Shikha Pandey by there was no respite for the Indian bowlers, who seemed out of sorts.

Bolton then put together a 68-run partnership with captain Meg Lanning and then an unbroken 74-run stand with Ellysa Perry to knock off the target.

India were dealt a big blow even before the start of the game with captain Mithali Raj ruled out due to illness.

Stand-in skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said the team needs to put up a better effort in all three departments.

"It was a hard day for us. We didn't play good cricket and didn't deserve to win. She (Mithali Raj's absence) is an important player for us," said Harmanpreet.

"But happy that the lower middle-order batted well. We didn't have enough on the board and then we didn't bowl according to the field. She (Pooja Vastrakar) played very well in South Africa and she showed her character today as well.

"We are expecting more good performances from her. We need to improve our batting and the bowlers need to contribute better," she added.

Earlier, Electing to bat after winning the toss, India lost wickets at regular intervals before the duo of Pooja Vastrakar (51) and Sushma Verma (41) steadied the ship with sensible batting.

This was the 18-year-old Vastrakar's maiden half-century, and she laced her crucial knock with seven boundaries and a six, while Verma found the fence three times during her 71-ball innings.

The total looked a far cry when Shikha Pandey was dismissed in the 32nd over with the score reading 113 for seven. That was the time when Verma and Vastrakar joined hands to bail India out of a precarious situation.

The hosts were off to a steady start with openers, Punam Raut (37) and Smriti Mandhana (12), putting on 38 runs in nine overs.

However, Mandhana was trapped in front of the wicket by Amanda-Jade Wellington in the first ball of the 10th over, giving the leg-spinner the first of her three wickets.

The most successful Australian bowler, though, was Jess Jonassen, who returned impressive figures of 4/30.

Jemimah Rodrigues and Raut were also dismissed in quick succession as India were left struggling at 60 for three, which became 83 for four in the 23rd over. While facing 50 deliveries, Raut struck six boundaries and a six.

With skipper Harmanpreet Singh falling to Alyssa Healy's work behind the stumps off Megan Schutt's bowling an over later, hosts India slumped to 87 for five.

The Australians were disciplined with the ball with the spinners taking eight wickets.

Had they held on to their chances, Meg Lanning's side could have restricted the hosts to a much lower score.