Australia's powerful performance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has secured them a spot in the semifinals, while India's position remains precarious after a narrow 9-run loss. Harmanpreet Kaur, India's captain, fought valiantly with an unbeaten 54*, but Australia's strong bowling in the final moments sealed India's fate in this crucial game.
Chasing 151, India found themselves in trouble despite a steady start. A key moment was the slow middle phase between overs 8 to 13, where India managed only 25 runs, letting the required run rate climb to above 10. Kaur's late surge brought India back into the game, but a superb final over by Annabel Sutherland, who took 2 wickets for 22 runs, left India just short of victory.
On the Australian side, stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath's decision to bat first after winning the toss set the stage. Australia, despite losing early wickets, managed to rebuild with key contributions from McGrath, Grace Harris, and veteran Ellyse Perry. Perry's late acceleration, supported by Phoebe Litchfield, allowed Australia to post a competitive total. India’s bowling was disciplined early on, with Renuka Thakur taking two crucial wickets, but Australia's depth in batting ensured they kept the scoreboard ticking even during tough phases.
Australia Batting:
- Grace Harris: 40 (27 balls, 4x4, 2x6)
- Tahlia McGrath: 32 (24 balls, 3x4, 1x6)
- Ellyse Perry: 32 (29 balls, 2x4, 1x6)
India Bowling:
- Renuka Singh Thakur: 2/27 (4 overs)
- Deepti Sharma: 2/22 (4 overs)
- Pooja Vastrakar: 1/34 (4 overs)
India Batting:
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 54* (43 balls, 5x4, 2x6)
- Shafali Verma: 28 (22 balls, 5x4)
Australia Bowling:
- Annabel Sutherland: 2/28 (4 overs)
- Sophie Molineux: 2/24 (4 overs)
- Jess Jonassen: 1/33 (4 overs)
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