India teen's brilliant ton too good for Aus A

A stunning century from 15-year-old rising star Shafali Verma has guided India A to a 16-run win over Australia A in the opening match of their one-day series in Brisbane.

Verma’s 78-ball 124 led the tourists to an imposing 9-312 in the first of three 50-over games at Allan Border Field, before the hosts were restricted to 9-296 in reply despite Tahlia McGrath’s impressive 97.

The teenager is almost certain to be part of the senior India squad for the T20 World Cup next February and March, and there's no doubt the Australian brains trust will be paying close attention to her performances across these 50- and 20-over 'A' encounters.

Belinda Vakarewa made the early breakthrough for Australia A removing opener Priya Punia (8), following up with a second as she castled Dayalan Hemalatha for a duck.

But the Australia A attack had no answers for batting prodigy Verma and experienced international Veda Krishnamurthy - another set to be part of India's World Cup squad - as they put on 119 runs for the third wicket.

Verma – who last month became the youngest Indian to score an international half-century, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record, when she smashed 73 from 49 in a T20I against West Indies – put the hosts to the sword in a stunning display, hammering 19 fours and four sixes as she reached triple figures.

Incredibly, when she was dismissed for 124 from just 78 balls in the 22nd over, she had scored 124 of her team’s 167 runs to that point.

Following her dismissal, Krishnamurthy picked up where Verma left off, bringing up a half-century of her own before being bowled by Tahlia McGrath in the 48th over, out for a 99-ball 113.

Off-spinner Molly Strano was the shining light for the Australians with the ball, picking up the wicket of Verma in her 1-29 from seven overs, while McGrath (3-48 off eight) and Heather Graham (2-55 from 10) were also economical.

Australia A openers McGrath and Georgia Redmayne started solidly in reply before the latter was dismissed for 30, followed shortly after by Bridget Patterson (6).

McGrath’s hopes of a century were dashed when Devika Vaidya took a catch off her own bowling, removing the Australian allrounder for a 90-ball 97.

Annabel Sutherland produced a run-a-ball 52, but Australia’s next highest contribution came from No.9 Molly Strano (32no) as they finished their fifty overs on 9-296.

The teams will meet in the second of three one-day matches at the same venue on Saturday.

Australia A One-Day squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Georgia Redmayne, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson

Australia A T20 Squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Josie Dooley, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Sammy Jo Johnson, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India A squad: Veda Krishnamurthy (c), Anuja Patil (vc), Priya Punia, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, D Hemalatha, Tanusree Sarkar, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parween, Mansi Joshi, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Manali Dakshini, T P Kanwar

Australia A v India A

First OD: India A won by 16 runs

Second OD: December 14, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10am

Third OD: December 16, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10am

First T20: December 19, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 1pm

Second T20: December 21, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 1pm

Third T20: December 23, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 10am