India fall to Australia despite Harmanpreet Kaur’s blitz in Women’s T20 World Cup

For large parts of India’s final league match against Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday, it appeared the ODI world champions were on course for an epic win.Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur produced a blazing 56 off 27 balls to propel India to a competitive 170/4, while medium-pacer Renuka Singh removed Georgia Voll in the opening over. The bowlers backed it up with a disciplined effort and, at the halfway stage of the chase, Australia were 72/3. Then came a masterclass from two of Australia’s finest batters. Ellyse Perry (56) and Ashleigh Gardner (53 n. o) stitched together a match-winning 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket to shut India out of the contest.

Australia completed a six-wicket victory with six balls to spare to finish atop Group I and seal a semifinal berth. They were joined in the last four by South Africa, who had beaten Bangladesh by four wickets earlier in the day. Hosts England and West Indies progressed from Group II. With Australia requiring 62 runs from the final six overs, India were still very much in the contest before unravelling under pressure. Shree Charani, India’s standout bowler throughout the tournament, conceded 16 runs in the 15th over to swing the momentum decisively in Australia’s favour.

Earlier, after opting to bat, India knew they would need an above-par total against Australia’s formidable batting line-up. Backed by a partisan crowd that included Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Ravi Shastri, the innings began brightly but never fully gathered momentum.Shafali Verma made an entertaining 34 off 26 balls before losing her balance and being bowled. Smriti Mandhana managed 38 but struggled to accelerate, scoring at just over a run a ball before being run out following a mix-up with Jemimah Rodrigues.Brief scores: India 170/4 (H Kaur 56, S Mandhana 38, Sophie Molineux 2/46) lost to Aus 172/4 in 19 overs (A Gardner 53, E Perry 56, S Charani 2/32)