The India women’s cricket team let a win slip from their hands as they began their Commonwealth Games campaign on a losing note, going down by three wickets to Australia in Birmingham on Friday.

Chasing a target of 155, Australia were on the mat when they were reduced 49/5. India medium pacer Renuka Singh (4/18 in four overs) bowled a dream spell, taking four of the first five wickets to fall. But even then, India could not land the “killer punch” that captain Harmanpreet Kaur had talked about on match eve.

Ashleigh Gardner (52 not out off 35 balls) tilted the scales in Australia’s favour with two game-changing stands of 51 and 47 with Grace Harris (37) and Alana King (18 not out), respectively. Gardner’s counterattack, even as she played with the tailenders, showed why Australia are the reigning whiteball champions.

Renuka, however, rocked Australia’s Powerplay overs with a brilliant spell of medium-pace bowling. She removed the dangerous Alyssa Healy in the first over before getting rid of Beth Mooney, Australia skipper Meg Lanning and the aggressive Tahlia McGrath. Rachael Haynes too did not last long, falling to Deepti Sharma.

Then began Gardner’s fightback and the match gradually slipped out of India’s control. India left-arm spinners Radha Yadav (0/42 in 4 overs) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (0/24 in 2 overs) had an off day and that hurt India.

Earlier, opener Shafali Verma (48 off 33) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (52 off 34) made most of the runs in India’s innings as the other batters disappointed.