Fellow debutant Kranti Gaud also had a first wicket to remember when she dismissed Phoebe Litchfield, largely thanks to a brilliant catch from Rodrigues at backward point.

It led to Healy walking out to a mighty ovation, but India weren’t in a generous mood as they clawed back into a contest they must win if they are to draw the multi-series format.

Healy’s day had started brightly when the coin fell in Australia’s favour for the first time in the multi-format series. Her decision to bowl caused a groan in the terraces with fans itching to watch her bat.

But the supporters were soon in full voice when Hamilton, 19, was introduced into the attack in the second over. She came close to a wicket on her fourth delivery but a reviewed lbw shout on opener Shafali Verma was unsuccessful due to an inside edge.

Hamilton only had to wait until her third over to get through Mandhana with a cracking full-pitched delivery that comprehensively beat the bat and smashed into middle stump.

She was mobbed by her teammates before bowling a fierce short delivery to fellow debutant Pratika Rawal, who streakily opened her account through the slip cordon.

Hamilton, who earlier received her baggy green from Beth Mooney, returned the impressive figures of 1 for 12 from five overs in her first spell. But India hung tough with Shafali – maturely resisting her attacking instincts – and Rawal combining well in a rearguard to get through the new ball.

Sutherland entered the attack and started a fabulous bowling performance by cutting short Shafali’s blossoming knock on 35 with a terrific delivery that was caught behind.

It was a reward for Sutherland who had earlier been desperately unlucky not to pick up the wicket of Rawal after Hamilton fumbled in the gully. In what proved to be a costly missed chance, Rodrigues was reprieved by Voll at short-leg on 0 when she fended a fierce short delivery from Sutherland.

But Sutherland was not to be denied after she enticed Rawal into edging to gully where Hamilton hung onto her first catch at Test level. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur started swiftly before her off-stump was knocked by a pearler from Darcie Brown as India entered the tea break in trouble at 99 for 4.

Sutherland continued to be irrepressible after the resumption and dismissed Deepti Sharma with a length ball as the pressure heightened on Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, who was purely in survival mode early in her innings.

Local hero Alana King was held back until the 40th over and Rogrigues decided it was time to put the foot down, counterattacking to devastating effect with four consecutive boundaries.

She sped to her half-century off 74 balls with the milestone reached in fitting style with a gorgeous drive as she continued to take a liking to King’s legspin.

Just when the partnership started to gather momentum, Ghosh threw it away when she hit a dragged down delivery from Ashleigh Gardner straight to short midwicket before Rodrigues tamely flicked a loose delivery from Hamilton to square leg.

Hamilton bagged Rana as India spiraled to 157 for 8 before debutant Kashvee Gautam attacked just like she had done during the ODI series. She eventually ran out of support with Sutherland claiming her fourth wicket when she dismissed Satghare.

The hectic day’s play also launched a new era at the revamped WACA ground with most spectators nestled in the rare shaded areas – still an issue even after the redevelopment – as the temperature peaked at 37 degree Celsius with a similar forecast set for day two.

Brief scores: [Stumps Day 1]
Australia Women  96 for 3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43*, Annabel Sutherland 20*; Kranti Gaud 2-28)  trail  India Women  198 in 62.4 overs (Shafali Verma 35, Jemmimah Rodrigues 52, Kasnvee Gautam 34*; Darcie Brown 2-41, Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) by 102 runs

[Cricinfo]