India made a strong start, reaching 101 for 1 at the dinner break on the opening day of their one-off Day/Night pink ball Test against Australia here on Thursday, thanks to Smriti Mandhana's stunning unbroken half-century.
Mandhana added 93 for the opening stand with Shafali Verma (31 off 64 balls), who played second fiddle during their partnership and blasted the off-side field with some exquisite drives to reach 64 off 112 balls with 13 boundaries.
In fact, it was a case of role reversal that took the Australians off surprise, as Shafali preferred to play defensively while her older partner attacked with gusto.
Darcie Brown received particular treatment from Mandhana, who struck her for a number of boundaries on the off-side as well as a couple of whip shots on the leg-side.
Ellyse Perry required a few overs to get the proper length, but with a cover drive from Tahlia McGrath, the exquisite left-hander achieved her run-a-ball fifty in no time.
It was the most pleasing sight whenever Mandhana bisected between point and cover, cover, or mid-off.
Shafali struck four boundaries but was scratchy after giving up two opportunities — one to Meg Lanning in the slips, which was a reflex catch, and the other to Annabel Sutherland, who was stationed at mid-on.
Finally, she was gone, attempting to smash left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux off the turn, and McGrath was handed a sitter at mid-off.
Mandhana's innings was split into two parts: the first fifty came in a flash, while the following 14 runs took 62 deliveries as she played the defensive game with Punam Raut till lunch.
India 1st Innings 101/1 in 33 overs (Smriti Mandhana 64 batting, Shafali Verma 31; Sophie Molineux 1/18) vs Australia .