Women’s T20 World Cup: Harmanpreet’s half-century in vain, Australia into semi-finals after defeating India
New Delhi| Australia defeated India by nine runs in a Group A match on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 54 could not lead India to victory in a do-or-die contest.
Australia retained their unbeaten record in the tournament with their fourth consecutive win in the group stage. On the other hand, India’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals will depend on the outcome of the Group A final match between New Zealand and Pakistan on Monday. If Pakistan wins the match, India will become the second team from the group to reach the semi-finals.
After winning the toss and batting first, Australia gave India a target of 152 runs. Shafali Verma gave a great start to India by playing an aggressive but short innings of 20 runs in 13 balls with two fours and a six. However, she became the victim of Ashley Gardner on the third ball of the fourth over.
Jemima Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana then put on a partnership of 13 runs. Sophie Molineux gave a second blow to India. She dismissed Smriti for six runs in the last over of the powerplay. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur came to bat at number four.
In the next over, Megan Scutt dismissed Jemima (16). Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma made a crucial partnership of 63 runs. Both batsmen continued to rotate strikes and send loose balls across the border. Molineux broke the partnership in the 16th over, once again taking the match away from India. After Deepti’s wicket, India needed 42 runs from 25 balls and Harmanpreet was at the other end. However, India’s tailenders came under pressure. The Indian captain hit four fours in the last two overs. Meanwhile, he completed his half-century in 44 balls.
14 runs were needed in the last over, but India lost four wickets with two run outs. Harmanpreet played only two balls in Annabel Sutherland’s over. India could only score 142/9 in 20 overs. For Australia, Molineux and Sutherland took two wickets each. Previously, Australia scored 151/8 from the scheduled 20 overs.
Short score: Australia 151/8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 40, Tahlia McGrath 32, Ellyse Perry 32; Renuka Singh 2-24, Deepti Sharma 2-28) beat India 142/9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54 not out, Deepti Sharma 29; Annabel Sutherland 2-22, Sophie Molyneux 2-32) by nine runs.
