India, Oct. 11 -- Such is the excitement for the Women's ODI World Cup's first sold out fixture between India and Australia that locals at the Rushikonda beach are discussing the logistics for match day. "Australia, danger team", chimed a vendor at the beach, which was met with a nod by an impressed spectator, who expects to be in the 26,000-capacity stadium on Sunday.

Australia, the seven-time winners, are unbeaten in the tournament. India have a lopsided record against them in ODIs. Although closely contested, they also lost the three-match series 2-1 in the lead-up to the World Cup at home.

What was expected to be India's most challenging phase in the tournament began in grim fashion in Visakhapatnam. They were expected to be challen...