India’s wait for a world title continued on Thursday, when they were defeated by Australia in the semifinal of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the Aussies’ nerves triumphed over top knocks from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Australia has advanced to the finals. They will either play England or South Africa. India got off to a bad start while chasing 173. They lost three wickets before the powerplay ended. Megan Schutt started India’s wicket-taking with a nine-run dismissal of opener Shafali Verma. In 1.3 overs, India was 11/1. Ashleigh Gardner struck again for India, dismissing Smriti Mandhana for just two runs. In 2.2 overs, India was 15/2.
Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues attempted to rebuild for Team India, but Yastika was forced to return to the pavilion after being run out for four runs. India was in a lot of trouble at 28/3 in 3.4 overs.
India reached 50 runs in 5.1 overs. India was 59/3 at the end of the mandatory powerplay after six overs. During the remainder of the powerplay, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (28) and Jemimah (25) increased the run rate.
Harmanpreet and Jemimah completed their 50-run partnership in 31 balls. India was 93/3 at the end of 10 overs, with Jemimah (39) and Harmanpreet (33) unbeaten at the crease. Darcie Brown stepped up to give Australia a breakthrough by dismissing Jemimah for 43 off 24 balls, just as India was looking dangerous. In 10.2 overs, India was 97/4.
Richa Ghosh, the finisher and wicketkeeper-batter, took the crease. Her arrival, with her in fine form, was a huge moment in the match. Harmanpreet delivered big time and returned to form when it counted, scoring her 10th T20I fifty in 32 balls with six fours and a six.
However, Australia delivered another game-changing moment when Harmanpreet was run out for 52 off 34 balls by Gardner and wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy. For 133 runs, half of the Indian lineup was inside the hut.
Deepti Sharma, the all-rounder, was up next. India was 134/5 at the end of 15 overs, with Richa (14) and Deepti (1) unbeaten. In the final five overs, India required 39 runs. Australia took down the in-form Richa for 14 points. Darcie took another game-changing wicket for Australia. India needed 38 runs in the final four overs after reaching 135/6 in 16 overs.
India was 142/6 at the end of 17 overs, needing 31 in the final three overs. With a four from Sneh Rana, India reached 150 runs in 17.3 overs. India needed 20 runs in the final two overs. India required 16 runs in the final over. Jess Jonassen had taken Rana’s wicket for 11 runs on the last ball of the 19th over. In 19 overs, India was 157/7.
Radha Yadav was fired for being a duck. In 19.4 overs, India was 162/8. Shikha Pandey took her turn on the crease next. However, India fell short of the target, finishing at 167/8 in 20 overs. Shika (1) and Deepti (20) both went undefeated.
Darcie finished as Australia’s top bowler, with 2/18. Gardner had two wickets, while Schutt and Jonassen each had one. Earlier, Beth Mooney’s sublime 54 and Meg Lanning’s fiery unbeaten 49-run knock propelled Australia to 172/4 against India in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 on Thursday at Newlands in Cape Town.
Australia set India a 173-point target for the first semi-final at Newlands. Beth Mooney’s half-century was the standout knock, with each of Australia’s top four making solid starts.
Australia batted first and got off to a good start when Alyssa Healy hit the first ball of the innings for four, sparking a solid opening partnership that saw them through the Powerplay. With their stunning shots, Beth Mooney and Healy slammed Indian bowlers all over the ground.
Australia got off to a fast start, leading 43/0 at the end of the powerplay. India did make a breakthrough, with Radha Yadav tempting Healy down the wicket and Richa Ghosh stumping him for 25 runs. However, at 78/1 after 11 overs, Australia was confidently pushing for a big total.
Mooney hit back-to-back two-fours off Shikha Pandey’s bowling to reach her half-century in 34 balls. Mooney’s time at the crease, however, came to an end when she was dismissed by Shikha, who gave her team a big breakthrough. Mooney reached her half-century and then fell for 54 seconds later.
In the 15th over of the innings, Ashleigh Gardner joined forces with Lanning to slam Sneh Rana for 14 runs. Gardner and Lanning smacked 13 runs in the 16th over and 11 runs in the 17th over of the innings, respectively. Deepti Sharma gave India a breakthrough by dismissing Gardner for 31 runs.
Shikha took Grace Harris’ wicket in the 19th over to put pressure on the Australian batters. Lanning hammered Renuka for 18 runs in the final over of the innings, slamming two sixes and one four to take Australia’s score to 172/4 in 20 overs. India 167/8 (Harmanpreet Kaur 52, Jemimah Rodrigues 43, Darcie Brown 2/18) lost by 5 runs to Australia 172/4 (Beth Mooney 54, Meg Lanning 49*; Shikha Pandey 2-32).
