Australia entered the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup by defeating India by nine runs in a Group A match on Sunday. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten innings of 54 runs could not give India victory in a ‘do or die’ match.
Australia maintained its unbeaten record in the tournament with its fourth consecutive win in the group stage. On the other hand, India’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals will depend on the result of the last match of Group A between New Zealand and Pakistan on Monday.
If Pakistan wins the match, India will become the second team to reach the semi-finals from the group. Batting first after winning the toss, Australia gave India a target of 152 runs. Shafali Verma gave India a great start 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.
After this, Jemima Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana shared a 13-run partnership. Sophie Molineux gave India the second blow. She dismissed Smriti for six runs in the last over of the powerplay. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur came to bat at number four.
Megan Schutt dismissed Jemima (16) in the next over. Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma shared a crucial 63-run partnership. Both the batsmen kept rotating the strike and sending the loose balls across the boundary.
Molineux once again took the match away from India by breaking the partnership in the 16th over. After Deepti’s wicket, India needed 42 runs in 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, she completed her half-century off 44 balls.
With 14 runs needed in the last over, India lost four wickets including two run outs. Harmanpreet played only two balls in Annabel Sutherland’s over. India could only score 142/9 in 20 overs.
Molineux and Sutherland took two wickets each for Australia. Earlier, Australia scored 151/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Brief scores: 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.
