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T20 Women's World Cup: Resilient Australia Guns Down India Despite Blazing Knock From Harmanpreet Kaur


image-lehbsjx4Australia held their nerves to clinch the win [Twitter]

Australia Women held their nerve under pressure once again as they beat India Women by five runs in the first Semi Final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 at Newlands in Cape Town. The five-times champions have done it again and they are through to the final, eyeing a record sixth title.

Australia rode the tide to post a formidable total

After electing to bat first, Australia got off to a good start, scoring 43 for none in the first six overs. Alyssa Healy had a slow start but Beth Mooney was at her aggressive best. India’s one of the best with the ball, Deepti Sharma bowled in half of the powerplay, but failed to make any impact. However, India did manage to put a hold on Australia’s run-flow after the powerplay and got rid of the dangerous Healy as well.

The conditions seemed to have gotten better for the Indians but their effort in the field let them down. Mooney continued to keep the scoreboard moving and completed her half century in 34 balls. Just when Mooney was looking up the run-rate even more, Shikha Pandey cut short her innings and Mooney departed after scoring a brilliant 54 off 37. 



Meg Lanning, who entered the fray at three, was joined by Ashleigh Gardner in the middle and the duo, eyeing a big finish, went on to add a quick 53 off 36 balls for the third wicket.

Skipper Lanning remained not out at the end, amassing 18 runs in the last over, helping Australia go past the 170 mark. With the ball, Shikha Pandey took two wickets, while Deepti Sharma came back and bowled a brilliant last over of her quota, including the wicket of Grace Harris.

Harmanpreet's batting brilliance in vain

image-lehbanq7Harmanpreet Kaur (Source: Twitter)

Chasing 173, India got off to a very poor start as they lost both of their openers, including in form Smriti Mandhana early in the powerplay. Yastika Bhatia, at three, could not make any difference and departed, leaving India three down inside the first four overs.

However, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur joined hands to rebuild the innings. The duo kept India in the chase as they finished with 93 in the halfway mark with no further damage. The pair completed a fifty runs partnership, leaving India to get 80 runs from the last ten overs.

ICC
@ICC
Feb 23, 2023, 9:40 PM
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In order to put a break into India’s runflow, Lanning handed the ball to Darcie Brown in the 11th over and the seamer rose to the occasion as she got rid of the dangerous Jemimah, who departed after scoring a magnificent 43 off 24. Harmanpreet continued the onslaught from the other end, completed her half century but failed to remain till the end.

Richa Ghosh had a struggling stay, scoring a 17-ball 14. Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana tried to get India over the line at the end but Australia held their nerve, leaving India five run-short of the target.

Brief scores:

Australia Women: 172/4 (20)

Beth Mooney 54 (37), Meg Lanning 49* (34);

Shikha Pandey 2-32 (4), Deepti Sharma 1-30 (4)

India Women:  167/8 (20)

Harmanpreet Kaur 52 (34), Jemimah Rodrigues 43 (24);

Darcie Brown 2-18 (4), Ashleigh Gardner 2-37 (4)