SHARJAH: A combined team effort led Australia to a narrow victory over India, securing their spot in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.
While defending 151, Australia restricted India to 142-9 with Annabel Sutherland bowling a brilliant last over.
Sutherland managed to successfully defend 13 runs in her last over. She conceded four runs, and also took two wickets, in addition to two run-outs.
Shafali Verma started the chase for India with a quick 20 off 13, however, India soon slipped to 47-3 inside seven overs.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined hands with Deepti Sharma and constructed a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket to launch the recovery. Sophie Molineux removed Sharma, who was playing at 29 off 25, to break the partnership.
Kaur then waged a lone battle as she could not get enough support from the other end. None of the lower-order batters posed any threat to the Australian bowling attack.
The Indian captain completed her half-century from 44 balls in the penultimate over. She took a single on the first ball of the last over.
With 13 required off 5, Sutherland castled Pooja Vastrakar (9) followed by a mix-up which resulted in Arundhati Reddy’s dismissal.
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Kaur faced the fourth delivery and took a single, leaving 12 needed off the last two balls. However, Sutherland held on to her nerves and steered Australia to a thrilling victory.
The Indian skipper remained unbeaten at 54 off 47, which featured six boundaries.
Sutherland and Molineux took two wickets each for Australia, while Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner managed one each.
Australia, after opting to bat, had an unwanted start as they slipped to 17-2 inside three overs with Renuka Singh taking two wickets on two balls.
Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath joined Grace Harris and together they stitched a 62-run partnership from 54 balls to push the team’s total to 79 before Radha Yadav provided a breakthrough.
McGrath got stumped off Yadav after scoring a 26-ball 32 with the help of four boundaries. Harris top-scored with a cautious 40 off 41 before she fell prey to Deepti Sharma with 92 runs on the board.
Ellyse Perry then played a quick knock of 32 runs from 23 balls, which included two boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, Phoebe Litchfield scored an unbeaten 15 off 9 to help Australia score 151-8 in their allocated 20 overs.
The defending champions remained unbeaten in the group stages of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with eight points after four matches, meanwhile, India secured two victories from four games.
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