Bolton sees clear path to India success

Australia opener Nicole Bolton has revealed the one key kit change she made before scoring a match-winning century on Monday: contact lenses.

The typically bespectacled batter plundered her fourth ODI century from 101 deliveries in tough conditions as temperatures soared close to 40 degrees Celsius.

She finished unbeaten and scored almost half of Australia's 201-run chase, as the tourists sealed an eight-wicket win in the opening ODI of the Commonwealth Bank Tour of India.

It was Bolton's first international innings on Indian soil, but the Western Australian explained it was previous experience in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh that was the simple reason behind the switch.

"The glasses are off," she laughed. "I think the lesson I've learned in the subcontinent is I've had fog issues with my glasses, so I've gone away from that and I've got little towel out there to make sure I actually see the ball."

Of Bolton's four one-day centuries to date, only the first – her ton on debut against England at the MCG in early 2014 – has come on Australian soil.

Image Id: 7C5CBAB694894AA1BD9B4F5491B1270D Image Caption: Bolton celebrates her fourth ODI ton // BCCI

Her second came in Sri Lanka in September 2016, the third against West Indies during last year's World Cup in the UK.

"Leave the family at home," Bolton joked when asked about her secret to scoring tons away from home.

"Nah, it's just something you embrace. The really good thing when you're travelling together is you're a tight-knit group and you can go about your business without the extra pressure of a home series."

Jokes aside, the 29-year-old's innings on Monday was a testament to the work she has put into adapting her game for the lower, slower wickets of the subcontinent – no simple task for an opener born and raised in Western Australia.

It also saw her join an exclusive club as only the fourth woman to score a century against India in India. Her captain Meg Lanning managed it last time Australia toured in 2012, while New Zealand captain Suzie Bates and England great Charlotte Edwards have also achieved the feat.

"I think this is pretty special, it's definitely right up there," Bolton said.

"India are such a quality side and my last innings against them was in the World Cup semi-final and I was really disappointed with my contribution in that game so I was determined to go out and play positively.

"I know India's got a great attack so to finish not out at end and get the girls over the line is something I'll look back on."

Image Id: DA1066B7F4D04AC697D0894F64EBD298 Image Caption: Bolton shared a key stand with Lanning // BCCI

Bolton employed her sweep shot to great effect on Monday during a near-chanceless innings, her one life coming when Rajeshwari Gayakwad dropped a simple catch when Bolton was on 66.

"I've had to do a lot of work over the season on my front-foot play, especially to the spinners and making sure I'm really committing to coming down the wicket.

"I think slow, turning wickets like these can play into my favour because I'm able to get really deep in the crease and get off the back foot.

"(The sweep) is something I did in Sri Lanka and it was quite successful so it was something I wanted to continue to do over here.

"It gives you another option as well with the spinners coming into you and if I'm sweeping, the bowler has to adjust their length and that plays into my strength, which is pulling."

Australia cruised to victory with 17.5 overs to spare on Monday, having bowled India out for 200.

They had the hosts on the ropes at 7-113 before a 76-run partnership between wicketkeeper Sushma Verma and No.9 Pooja Vastrakar eked out a more respectable total, but Bolton praised the efforts of the Australian attack and opening partner Alyssa Healy, who got the chase off to a rapid start with 38 off 29.

"Our bowlers up front did a fantastic job and picked up key wickets and got the ball rolling," she said.

"That partnership at the end was crucial for India and got them a bit of momentum coming into the bowling innings, but Healy sniffed that momentum and put it back in our favour and we went on from there."

Australia have two days to recover and prepare for the second match of the series, to be played at the same venue on Thursday.

Commonwealth Bank Tour of India

Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Naomi Stalenberg, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India ODI squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Sushma Verma, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey, Sukanya Parida, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma

England T20I squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Katie George, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Bryony Smith, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danni Wyatt

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by 321 runs. Report

Warm-up match Australia beat India A by seven wickets. Report

ODI series

First ODI Australia won by eight wickets Scorecard

Second ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 15

Third ODI Reliance Stadium, Vadodara, March 18

T20I tri-series

First T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 22

Second T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 23

Third T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 25

Fourth T20I Australia v India, Brabourne Stadium, March 26

Fifth T20I Australia v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 28

Sixth T20I India v England, Brabourne Stadium, March 29

Final Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 31