In a thrilling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 encounter, Australia edged out India by nine runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The defeat left India’s semi final hopes hanging by a thread as Australia topped Group A with an unbeaten record, having won all four of their group matches.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Australia posted a competitive total of 151 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by opener Grace Harris, who scored a well-made 40 off 41 deliveries, playing with patience and composure as she built crucial partnerships to stabilise the Australian innings.
Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath and the experienced Ellyse Perry chipped in with valuable knocks of 32 each, giving the side much-needed momentum in the middle overs.
India’s bowlers, led by Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma, managed to restrict Australia effectively despite the aggressive intent shown by the Aussies.
Renuka and Deepti claimed two wickets each, with Renuka finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 24, while Deepti supported well with 2 for 28.
Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with one wicket apiece, ensuring Australia did not run away with the game. However, a few loose overs towards the end allowed Australia to breach the 150-run mark, which proved crucial in the context of the match.
Chasing 152 for victory, India got off to a cautious start as openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana took time to settle. Shafali looked promising but fell for 20, while Mandhana's struggles against the Australian bowling attack continued as she managed only 12 runs before being dismissed.
India’s hopes then rested heavily on captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who played a fighting innings, top-scoring with 54 not out off 47 balls. Her knock, laced with calculated aggression, helped India stay in the hunt, but the lack of substantial support from the other end proved to be India’s downfall.
Deepti Sharma showed promise with her 29 runs, but she, too, fell at a crucial moment, unable to build a partnership with her skipper. The Indian middle and lower order struggled to capitalise on the starts, as wickets fell at regular intervals.
The Australian bowlers executed their plans to perfection, with Annabel Sutherland (2 for 22) and Sophie Molineux (2 for 32) leading the charge.
The pressure mounted on India as the required run rate escalated, and despite Harmanpreet’s best efforts, the Women in Blue fell short, ending their innings at 142 for 9.
Harmanpreet’s knock was a lone beacon in an otherwise inconsistent batting display, as India failed to convert their starts into match-winning contributions.
This defeat marks India’s second loss in the group stage, having previously suffered a setback against New Zealand. With two wins and two losses, India now finds themselves on four points, leaving their fate in the hands of other teams. Australia’s victory, on the other hand, saw them secure their place in the semifinals with a perfect group stage record.
The Women in Blue will now watch Monday's match closely, as New Zealand faces Pakistan. A win for Pakistan could open the doors for India’s progression to the semifinals, but a New Zealand victory would effectively knock India out of the tournament.
Reflecting on the match, Harmanpreet Kaur expressed disappointment over the team's performance. "It’s always tough to lose such close games.
We had our chances, but credit to Australia for bowling well in the death overs. We need to regroup and work on our finishing to perform better in future matches," she said during the post-match presentation.
For Australia, the victory reaffirms their dominance and depth in the squad, even without key players like Meg Lanning. Their bowling attack, led by Sutherland and Molineux, demonstrated discipline and tactical prowess, applying pressure at key moments and successfully defending a total that seemed achievable for the Indians.
Brief Scores: Australia: 151 for 8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 40, Tahlia McGrath 32, Ellyse Perry 32; Renuka Singh 2/24, Deepti Sharma 2/28). India: 142 for 9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54*, Deepti Sharma 29; Annabel Sutherland 2/22, Sophie Molineux 2/32).
Follow us
