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Once again, it was Australia who stopped India in the final. Ashleigh Gardner turned out to be India’s nemesis as she pulled off an all-round display to deny India the gold medal at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s fifty went in vain as India lose seven wickets for 31 runs in the run chase which reminded many of India’s collapse in World Cup 2017 final.
India's run chase of 162 did not get off to an ideal start. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana got out within three years.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet reginited India's hopes with a 96-run partnership for the third wicket. Rodrigues got out after a run-a-ball 33. At one point, it seemed like India will chase it down easily but Megan Schutt taking Rodrigues' wicket brought Aussies back in game.
Pooja Vastrakar got promoted up the order but Gardner took her wicket. On the next delivery, Harmanpreet attempted a scoop but got caught by the wicketkeeper. She scored 65 runs from 43 deliveries including seven fours and two sixes.
After Harmanpreet's wicket, India needed 41 runs from 25 deliveries. The mini partnership between Deepti and Sneh Rana kept the run chase alive but the latter's run out led to a collapse. Radha Yadav and concussion substitute for Taniya Bhatia -- Yastika Bhatia -- could not do much either as India got all out for 152 with three balls left in the innings.
Earlier, Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to bat first. Renuka Singh was impressive with the new ball and trapped Alyssa Healy in front of the wickets. Beth Mooney and Lanning dominated Indian bowlers and laid the foundation for a big score. Skipper Lanning fell to a brilliant piece of run out pulled off by Radha off her own bowling.
After Lanning's wicket, Covid-positive Tahlia lost her wicket to Deepti as Radha took a brilliant catch at backward point. Mooney got to her half-century and Gardner attacked as
well. Sneh Rana got the breakthrough and broke the fourth-wicket partnership. Gardner got stumped out after scoring 25 off 15 deliveries.
Grace Harris could not do what she did in the group stage game. Indian bowlers turned the screws in the slog overs and got the wicket Mooney. The opener scored 61 runs from 41 deliveries including eight fours. Australian tailenders did not do too much but Rachael Haynes remained unbeaten for 18 off 10 deliveries. Australia managed to post 161/8.
