T20 World Cup: Australia edges India by 9 runs


Karnataka News


Sharjah: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur made an unbeaten 54, but India’s nine-run defeat to six-time champions Australia has put their semifinal chances out of reach in Sunday’s women’s T20 World Cup.

With Australia advancing to the semifinals without a loss, India must now await the result of New Zealand’s match against Pakistan on Monday, as they finished the group stage.

If New Zealand wins, it will move ahead of India in the standings. Both teams have the same number of points (four), but India currently has a better Net Run Rate.

In pursuit of 152, India received a boost from Harmanpreet’s unbeaten fifty (54 off 47 balls, with 6 fours) and her 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Deepti Sharma (29). However, they faltered under pressure, finishing at 142 for nine in 20 overs.

28 runs must be scored in the last two overs. India managed to score 14 in the second-to-last over. However, needing 14 runs in the last over, they lost four wickets, ultimately handing the victory to Australia while Harmanpreet remained stranded at the other end.

India suffered due to careless fielding and a delayed response in their run chase. During the period from 7.4 to the end of the 14th over, only two boundaries were scored, with Harmanpreet hitting her first four on her 15th ball.

India’s failure to take charge led to the required run rate climbing above 10 per over, with 53 runs needed from the last five overs. However, a boundary each from Deepti and Harmanpreet in the 16th over briefly lifted hopes.

Deepti was caught by Wareham at deep midwicket after scoring 29 runs off 25 balls, including three fours.

If Deepti’s wicket halted India’s momentum, Richa Ghosh’s run out just three balls later, thanks to an outstanding direct hit from Phoebe Litchfield, severely damaged India’s chances.

Harmanpreet enjoyed a stroke of luck when Darcie Brown dropped a catch while attempting a forward dive at deep backward square leg off Wareham in the 13th over when Harmanpreet was on 15 runs.

India’s Run Chase: A Rocky Start and Missed Opportunities

At the beginning of the run chase, Shafali demonstrated the right approach but was dismissed shortly after.

After hitting a four and a six in Megan Schutt’s second over, she was caught by Annabel Sutherland at long-on off Ashleigh Gardner in the fourth over, finishing with 20 runs off 13 balls.

Jemimah Rodrigues struck two consecutive fours off Sutherland, shifting the pressure back onto Australia. However, Smriti Mandhana’s inability to gain momentum with the bat ended in disappointment.

Facing leg-spinner Sophie Molineux, who angled the ball in towards the left-hander, Mandhana played a poor shot across the line and was trapped in front of the wickets.

It was surprising that Australia had to refer the decision to the third umpire after the on-field umpire turned it down, but they successfully overturned the call.

India’s bad luck continued when Jemimah, who was in excellent form, sent a shot directly to Gardner at deep midwicket, who made a flawless diving catch.

Jemimah scored 16 runs off 12 balls, including three fours.

Renuka Singh Thakur (2/24) and Deepti Sharma (2/28) were key contributors to the bowling lineup, but Australia managed to score 151 for 8 after choosing to bat first.

Renuka made an impact by taking two early wickets, while Deepti secured vital dismissals of Grace Harris (40) and Ellyse Perry (32) in the later stages of the innings.

Despite being a makeshift opener, Harris, along with stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath (32), veteran Perry, and Phoebe Litchfield’s late innings contribution of 15 not out off nine balls, helped Australia establish a challenging target for India.

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