A heartbreak for the Indian Women’s Team as they fell short of the target by 9 runs in their last Group A encounter against Australia at Sharjah Stadium. Despite Harmanpreet Kaur’s 54 off 47 balls and 29 off 25 balls, Tahlia McGrath-led unit kept their cool to eke out a thrilling victory against India. India suffered a big loss after two back-to-back wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India’s qualification to the semi-final now hinges on the result between New Zealand vs Pakistan game slated to happen tomorrow. India would want their neighbours Pakistan to beat a confident New Zealand. Let’s see how the clash between India vs Australia Women’s T20 WC 2024 transpired into a thrilling affair.
India vs Australia Women’s T20 WC 2024 – Kangaroos Won the Toss, Elected to Bat First
Australia Women’s Team Stand-in Captain Tahlia McGrath won the toss and decided to bat first at Sharjah Stadium. Grace Harris started well by dispatching Renuka Singh over the point fielder for a boundary of the second ball of the first over. However, Renuka Singh broke the first wicket stand of 17 runs between Grace Harris and Beth Mooney by dismissing the latter for just two runs. Radha Yadav took a brilliant catch at backward point to get rid of Mooney. The next ball saw Renuka trapping Wareham leg before wicket. Two in Two for Renuka, and she was elated with the result.
Tahlia McGrath joined Grace Harris at the crease, and the duo started consolidating in this India vs Australia Women’s T20 WC 2024. They took singles and twos and hit odd boundaries in between to keep the scoring board ticking along. However, India didn’t allow Australia to run away as the latter could only score 37 in the first powerplay.
India Scalp More with Excellent Bowling and Fielding
The pair notched up 62 runs for the third wicket before Richa Ghosh stumped out McGrath off Radha Yadav. McGrath scored 32 off 26 balls, hitting four boundaries. Soon, Deepti Sharma got the prized scalp of Grace Harris who pulled it straight to Smriti Mandhana at mid-wicket. Australia’s scorecard read 92 for 4 in 13.2 overs.
Pooja Vastrakar then dismissed Garder by bouncing her out as Radha Yadav took a good catch under lights. Australia were struggling at 101 for 5 in 15 overs. Then came an excellent 33-run partnership off 21 balls as Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield hit fours and sixes to keep Australia in the hunt. Perry hit hard but straight to the substitute fielder Sajana off Deepti Sharma at deep mid-wicket. Shreyanka Patil bowled Sutherland, who scored 10 off 6 balls, in the last over of the Australian innings.
Then followed an excellent runout of Molineux effected by the Jemimah-Shreyanka combo. Phoebe Litchfield finished Australia’s innings on a grand note by slamming Shreyanka over the deep square leg fielder for a maximum. Australia ended with a fighting total of 151 for 8 in 20 overs.
Shafali, Smriti Start on a Positive Note in India vs Australia Women’s T20 WC 2024
Shafali Verma lifted Megan Schutt over the mid-on fielder for a couple, showing the intent in this virtually do or die clash for India. Both accumulated five runs in the first over. Lucky escape for Shafali as the sweeper cover fielder could not take a catch off Gardener. However, she smashed Gardener for a boundary off the last ball. Shafali swept a length ball into the square leg region for a boundary. India reached 13 for no loss in two overs.
She lifted Schutt over the mid-off region for a boundary the next over. Then followed a maximum over the long-off region, helping India reach 25 for 0 in 3 overs. Gardener, however, removed the dangerous-looking Shafali by having her caught by Sutherland at long-on. Shafali scored 20 off 13 balls, smashing two fours and a six. Jemimah showed positive intent by hit two back-to-back boundaries off Sutherland. India galloped to 39 for 1 in 5 overs, keeping up with the asking rate.
Sophie Molineux then got Smriti Mandhana trapped leg before wicket to make it exciting in the India vs Australia T20 WC 2024 game. Smriti went back to a delivery that hurried off the surface to find her before wicket. India were placed at 41 for 2 in the first powerplay.
Jemimah Could Not Contribute Much in India vs Australia T20 WC 2024
Jemimah dispatched Megan Schutt to the deep mid-wicket region for a boundary to kick off a good start after the first powerplay. However, she was out in that over by hitting straight to Gardener at deep square leg. India were suddenly found in trouble at 47 for 3 in 6.5 overs. Jemimah scored 16 off 12. Australians were elated to see the fall of three quick wickets.
Deepti Sharma found a much-needed boundary the next over, albeit a top edge that flew over the wicketkeeper to the fence at fine-leg. A lot rested on Harmanpreet-Deepti partnership in this exciting India vs Australia T20 WC 2024 clash at Sharjah. Moreover, Deepti got a reprieve on the last ball of the 9th over as Molineux could not hold on to a tough chance. India were placed at 67 for 3 in 10 overs, requiring another 85 in the next 10 over. It looked a stiff challenge for India as they were behind the asking rate.
Harmanpreet, Deepti Consolidate Further
Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma had their task cut out. They needed to up the scoring rate. Harmanpreet responded by hitting Darcie Brown for a boundary at deep backward square leg. India captain was dropped by Darcie Brown who dived forward to take a catch off Wareham at deep backward square leg. Australian bowlers kept bowling in the right channel, not allowing the duo to find boundaries. Harmanpreet hit a much-needed boundary on the last ball of the 14th over. She pulled Gardener to deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Deepti scooped Wareham over the short fine-leg fielder for a boundary off the last ball of the 15th over.
The Final 5-over Drama Between India vs Australia T20 WC 2024 Contest
India reached 100 in the following over as Harmanpreet lifted over the in-field for a couple. She struck a boundary the next ball by smashing Molineux to deep extra cover. Deepti supported with a boundary the next ball but was out the following ball as she hit it straight to Wareham at deep mid-wicket. India were at 110 for 4 in 15.5 overs as the fourth wicket stand of 63 runs was broken by Australia. Richa Ghosh was out runout on the first ball of the 17th over, keeping India in a spot of bother. India scored just a single in the 17th over.
Harmanpreet hit two back-to-back boundaries in the next over in the India vs Australia T20 WC 2024 game. India reached 124 for 5 in 18 overs, requiring another 28 off the last two overs. A fumble in the next over saw Vastrakar scoring 2 on the off-side. Vastrakar a boundary the next ball, followed by a boundary and a couple by Harmanpreet in that over to complete her half-century. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the ground became upbeat as Chak De India song became loud in the background.
India scored 14 in the 19th over and required the same number of runs in the last over to clinch a victory. Harmanpreet scored a single off the first ball. Sutherland hit the leg stump of Pooja Vastrakar to leave India at 139 for 6 in 19.2 overs. Arundhati was runout the next ball in an attempt to give her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur the strike. Shreyanka Patil was out run out the next ball in an attempt to run on the wide delivery. Radha Yadav came and was trapped leg before wicket while attempting to slog into the leg-side. India ended up with 142 for 9 in 20 overs, losing the game by 9 runs.
