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Shafali Verma (17) has already reached three half-centuries in just two Tests
One-off Test, Metricon Stadium in Carrara (day four). India 377-8 dec; Molineux 2-55) & 135-3(Verma 52). Australia 241-9 Dec (Perry68*; Vastrakar 349 & 36-2 Match drawn. Australia leads multi-format series. 6-4 Scorecard
India missed the chance to win the day's final Test in Carrara against Australia. The match ended in a draw.
Australia scored 98 runs and declared. India was able to reach 135-3 in 37 overs. However, India wasted too much time batting.
The hosts were left with a nominal chase of 272 runs in 32 overs, and they were 36-2 when players shook hands.
Each side takes two points, so Australia leads the multi-format series at 6-4
The series ends with three Twenty20s worth two points each on October 7, 9 and 10.
Perry delivers... again
Australia was the side that arrived at the ground today, with India the only one who could win the match.
Australia's first task was to avoid the follow on. Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Deepti Sharma made their maiden Test half-century. They extended their partnership to 89 when they got within 20 of the required score.
Both lived charm lives. Perry was 58 years old and Gardner was 20.
This breakthrough saw Australia lose five wickets for 32 runs. Meghna S was the maiden Test victim. Meg Lanning declared on 241-9, still 136 runs behind, to make all four possible.
Perry's unbeaten 68 has seen her pass 50 Test innings. She now averages 86.50, the highest average by a female player in at least 10 innings.
Is India positive enough?
Although a score of 135-3 in 37 runs at a run rate 3.65 is not slow, questions will be raised about India's efforts to win the match.
Smriti Mandhana (17-year-old Shafali) are natural fluent players who score fast. India promoted Yastika Bhattia up the ranks in an effort to score quickly.
They led 242 to tea, at which point Australia would have had 41 runs to bowl at Australia. However, Australia chose to bat and only used seven of their overs.
Although a win is unlikely, it was an unambitious tactic. Captain Mithali Raj's lackluster attitude will be scrutinised again after their trip to England.
Positives were good for tourists with Verma reaching her third Test half-century in her second Test before being trapped lbw at Georgia Wareham's first Test wicket.
They were precise with the ball, and were able to pick up Beth Mooney and Alyssa Shealy wickets. However, both sides will regret the fact that only 101.5 runs were possible on day two due to rain.
This result will likely lead to more requests for women's Test matches that mirror the men's game, and be played over five consecutive days as in the case of England and India's June draw in Bristol.
Heather Knight, England's captain at the time, stated that five-day Tests could be "the way forward".
