Australia vs India: Smriti Mandhana notches first Test century on day two at Carrara, live blog

Pinned

69th over still – Gardner has her tail up

The skipper Mithali Raj is the new batter. Doesn’t get any easier for Australia.

SMRITI IS OUT! CHIPPED A CATCH TO SHORT COVER FOR 127! AT LAST FOR AUSTRALIA!

That one has come out of nowhere! A gentle ball outside off stump, a meek little push from Smriti and a comfortable catch by McGrath at short cover. A much-needed wicket for Australia, and the end to an innings of immense class from Smriti Mandhana. A joy to watch her bat out there.

69th over – Here’s Gardner again

68th over – Here comes Wareham

There was the full-toss I just said she wasn’t bowling any of. Punam only pushes it into the covers though, and takes two.

Australia’s fielding has been sloppy today too. Hard for bowlers to maintain pressure when misfields release the valve.

Four runs off that Wareham over.

67th over – Gardner rolling the ol arm over again

I can only assume they don’t want to bowl Wareham and Molineux together, but I reckon it might be worth a look.

Not many runs are coming off Gardner, but she doesn’t really look like taking a wicket either.

66th over – A refreshed and hydrated Wareham continues

An hour and 15 minutes into day two, things aren’t going well for Australia. The need for a wicket is starting to become pretty urgent.

Wareham has looked more threatening in her few overs than any of the other Australians. And she hasn’t thrown up any of the real dodgy balls you expect of a leggie.

A good over, a maiden.

65th over – Gardner continuing

Closing in on the 100 stand between these two.

Jeez these spinners get through the overs quickly. I think that’s drinks too, another great little period of play for India.

64th over – Wareham again

SHOT! Just a beautiful cover drive from Smriti. Not a bad ball at all, but so well timed and placed into the cover gap.

And again through the covers from Smriti! Good fielding on the rope keeps it to three.

63rd over – Time for some more Gardner

Same field in place for Smriti, who finds a slightly deeper fielder at extra cover and takes the single.

She’s tidy but not particularly threatening right now.

62nd over – It’s Wareham time again

Bit of extra buzz into the game with the ball in Georgia’s hand.

Wareham is not afraid to toss a few up here. Will Punam bite?

FOUR! And there goes the pressure! Bad misfield at square leg from Darcie Brown lets Punam off the hook.

Just that boundary off the over.

61st over – Gardner bowling to Smriti

Couple of fielders to clog up the cover region.

Those fielders do their job. That one’s a maiden.

60th over – Georgia Wareham gets her first chance in Test cricket

Here we go, this will be fun. Any leg spinner playing Test cricket for Australia is worth getting behind. Let’s see how Wareham goes.

Might have liked a few more fielders around the bat to give her a chance. Smriti takes her first ball to deep square leg for a single.

Well bowled by Wareham, but an even better shot from Punam. A delicate late cut past first slip for two.

Yeah, that’s good stuff. Very nice first over from Wareham.

59th over – Gardner in again

Closeish cover and that weird straight mid-on in place. And a slip.

Bit of extra flight from Gardner, and she sneaks one past the edge and into Punam’s pad. Half an LB shout, but she was well outside the line.

There’s a maiden.

58th over – Campbell charging in again

Another short one down the leg side, another one pulled away for a single.

One more for Punam off her thigh. She’s 20 now off 96 balls, but her job has been to support the swashbuckling Smriti. She’s playing her role to perfection.

EDGED FOR FOUR! No slips in place, so Smriti’s genuine outside edge flies through the gap and down to third for four.

FOUR MORE! Now too straight from Campbell! Smriti takes her very fine off her pads, another boundary.

Things are moving quickly for Australia.

57th over – Ash Gardner returns to the attack

Lanning throws the ball to one of her spinners after nearly an hour of fruitless efforts. Still no sign of the leg-spinner Georgia Wareham yet.

Not a particularly attacking field, but there is a catcher close to the pitch at mid-on.

Wouldn’t mind a short leg in, but no sign of it yet. A maiden to start for Gardner in any case.

56th over – Campbell to Smriti

EDGED FOR FOUR! A good bouncer and a genuine top edge, but it is high and wide of Healy behind the stumps. Another Smriti boundary.

Another short one, another pull shot. Just the single this time. Aaaaand then a wide.

No alarm for India, even as Campbell brings her line and length in a bit tighter at Punam. Six off the over.