India v Australia
KD Singh Babu Stadium, Lucknow: 28th – 30th January 1984
The second Test between India and Australia was played at KD Singh Babu Stadium, a hockey stadium, the wicket slow and the outfield rough.
Australia’s Jill Kennare won the toss and batted but it was slow going on the unusual pitch. Lindsay Reeler and Kennare both went early and it was the pairing of Peta Verco (67) and Trish Dawson (34) left to steady the ship. It was a case of never really being in and it showed in a string of low scores, with only Lyn Larsen (43*) and Karen Price (25) showing any real fight in the lower order. The Aussies finished day one 9/245 and it was at the beginning of day two that Kennare made the declaration.
The match was nicely set up for Australia and they had India 9/120 through some inspired bowling from Karen Price (6-72) with the backing of Lyn Fullston (3-48), but alas they could not take the last wicket. A 10th wicket partnership of 78 between Shashi Gupta (48*) and Sharmila Chakraborty (26) saved India to be all out for 198 and put the Aussies in a position where they had to manufacture a second innings quickly while not throwing the game away.
Verco and Reeler both scored 34 each but it fell away disastrously after that. Eventually Kennare declared Australia’s second innings closed at 8/123. It left India a target of 171 from 43 overs.
“I am confident that I declared at the right time; they had to make 171 off 43 overs. What was surprising was that they made no attempt to win the match; they defended from the first ball. This created pressure on them and the wickets started to come. We had them at 5/18 and I bowled a variety of bowlers including myself; I got Shanta’s wicket in a maiden over. I feel if we gave them a smaller target, they could make it and we would have thrown the match away.”
Four more wickets to Price to give her the rare feat of ten for the match, but it ended when stumps were drawn and India 7/65.
Australia 9/245 (Verco 67, Larsen 43*, Dawson 34, Gupta 4-47) and 8 dec 123 (Verco 34, Dawson 34, Gupta 4-53, Edjuli 3-35) drew with India 198 (Gupta 48, Price 6-72, Fullston 3-48) and 7/65 (Price 4-35)