Renuka Thakur scripts history with majestic 4-wicket haul in CWG 2022 opener: Watch

women's cricket event at Commonwealth Games 2022 would t have asked for a better start with India and Australia providing a nail-biting contest. first match of event saw India women's cricket team suffering a heartbreaking 3-wicket loss to Australia Women's team despite being in a winning position for most of match. Ashleigh Gardner played an unbeaten kck of 52 runs to help Australia win ir opening encounter. Besides Gardner's heroics, match will also be remembered for India pacer Renuka Thakur 4 wicket spell that bamboozled Australian batting lineup.

CWG 2022 cricket: Renuka Thakur four-wicket spell blows away Australia

Opening bowling at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, Renuka gave India an early breakthrough by dismissing dangerous Alyssa Healy in first over of Australia's innings. After dismissing Healy, pacer accounted for wickets of Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney in her second over. Following an incredible spell of fast bowling in opening over's India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur decided to continue with Thakur and move paid off with 26-year-old getting rid of Tahila McGrath for her fourth wicket. pacer finished with figures of 4/18 from as many overs. incredible spell, saw Thakur becoming only second Indian pacer after Jhulan Goswami to take four or more wickets in a T20I encounter. Goswami had picked up five wickets and conceded 11 runs in a T20I match against Australia at Visakhapatnam in 2012. 

CWG 2022: India vs Australia match highlights

  India vs Australia match at Commonwealth Games 2022 saw India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur winning toss and deciding to bat first. India had made a promising start with opener Smriti Mandhana racing to 24 off 16 balls, however, her innings was short-lived after edging Darcie Brown's delivery to wicketkeeper in fourth over. Shafali Verma looked destructive with bat with Australia letting her off thrice. re was once an instance where Healy broke stumps with her empty right hand while ball was in her left glove. Verma ended up scoring 48 off 33 balls before she was caught by Healy off-spinner Jess Jonassen.

Harmanpreet Kaur created history by becoming first woman batter to score a half-century in CWG history. Indian skipper was dismissed by Schutt for 52 runs with Idia eventually posting 154/8. Jess Jonassen finished with figures of 4/22. Chasing 155 for win, Renuka Thakur's dream spell reduced Australia to 4/34 before Deepti Sharma accounted for Rachel Haynes wicket putting Australia completely on backfoot at 49/5. Ashleigh Gardner and Grace Harris n put 0on an important partnership and went after India spinner Radha Yadav who gave away 42 runs in 4 overs. Meghna Singh dismissed Harris to bring India back into match but Alana King and Gardner ensured Australia cross finish line with an over to spare.