IND-W vs AUS-W | Sensational Gardner leads Australia's remarkable comeback

Gardner was sensational against India

The Meg Lanning-led world champions rode on Ashleigh Gardner's unbeaten 35-ball 52 and cameos from Grace Harris (37 off 20) & Alana King (18* off 16) to hunt down the target of 155 with 1 over to spare.

Renuka Singh (4-18 in 4 overs) dismissed their top-order in the powerplay to leave them reeling at 34-4. However, brilliant individual performance from Gardner ensured that the World Champions eventually cross the winning line.

Renuka Singh Thakur produced a seam-bowling masterclass

India got off to a dream start thanks to Renuka's seam-bowling masterclass, where she made the ball move both ways. Renuka prized out the heart of Australia's batting in the powerplay with wickets of Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath.

With the score reading 119-7 after 17 overs, Australia needed 1 big over to kill the run-chase. Gardner and King did exactly that as they hit 3 fours in the 18th over bowled by Meghna.

Gardner then smashed three more fours in the next two to muscle her way to a half-century before King finished it off in style with a slog wide of mid-wicket for another boundary.

Shafali Verma led the charge after Mandhana's dismissal

India lost Mandhana early in the innings. However, blistering opener Shafali Verma's onslaught, hammering a 33-ball 48 gave India a brisk start.

Verma looked in sublime touch

While Verma was going all guns blazing, her partner Yastika struggled to get going at the other end thanks to some tight bowling from Gardner and King in the powerplay.

Harmanpreet dazzled at the backend to give India Women a strong finish

Jonassen (4-22 in 4), along with Gardner bowled very well during the middle-overs but Harmanpreet ensured that India kept getting crucial boundaries.

However, Harman stood tall amid the ruins to race her way to a 33-ball half-century. The right-hander ensured that India got 39 runs in the last 5 to end with 154-8, which ultimately proved to be inadequate.

Brief Scores

India Women 154-8 (20)

Harmanpreet Kaur 52 (34)

Shafali Verma 48 (33)

Jess Jonassen 4-22 (4)

Meghan Schutt 2-26 (4)

Australia Women 157-7 (19)

Ashleigh Gardner 52* (35)

Grace Harris 37 (20)

Alana King 18* (16)

Renuka Singh 4-18 (4)

Deepti Sharma 2-24 (4)

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