India’s Women’s T20 World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak after Australia completed the highest successful run chase in tournament history with a six-wicket victory at Lord’s on Sunday, knocking Harmanpreet Kaur’s side out of the semifinals despite a fighting total of 170/4.
Needing victory to stay in semifinal contention, India finished third in Group 1 with six points from five matches, while Australia and South Africa advanced with eight points each. Chasing 171, Australia recovered from an early setback through a match-winning stand between Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner, who struck fluent half-centuries to guide their side to 172/4 in 19 overs.
India made the ideal start when Renuka Singh dismissed Georgia Voll in the opening over, but Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney steadied the chase before Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma reduced Australia to 82/3. However, Perry and Gardner wrested control with a composed partnership, rotating the strike before accelerating against India’s bowlers. Perry made 56 off 38 balls, while Gardner remained unbeaten on 53 off 28 deliveries as Australia sealed victory with an over to spare.
Earlier, India produced one of their best batting efforts of the tournament after opting to bat. Openers Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (34) added 66 for the first wicket before Harmanpreet took charge in the closing overs. The India captain smashed 56 off just 26 balls, including three consecutive sixes in the final over, lifting India to a competitive 170/4. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed 34 before retiring out.
Brief scores: India 170/4 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56, Smriti Mandhana 38, Shafali Verma 34; Sophie Molineux 2-46) lost to Australia 172/4 in 19 overs (Ellyse Perry 56, Ashleigh Gardner 53 not out, Phoebe Litchfield 24; Shree Charani 2-32, Deepti Sharma 1-31) by six wickets.
(IANS)
