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Harmanpreet Kaur's India perished under pressure and suffered a heartbreaking nine-run defeat against defending champions Australia in their last-league match of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024.
Australia qualify for Women's T20 World Cup semifinal
Despite Harmanpreet Kaur's fighting fifty India failed to chase down Australia's 152-run target as defending champions restricted them to 142/9 to dazzle into the Women's T20 World Cup semifinal. India's second defeat in the tournament has placed them on the brink of elimination from the group stage. If New Zealand defeats Pakistan, Harmanpreet Kaur's team will be forced to return home.
Now everything boils down to the decider clash between New Zealand and Pakistan on October 14. If New Zealand end up losing their last league-stage match, the semifinalist will be decided by the NRR. But if New Zealand beat Pakistan, they will seal the semifinal spot.
Australia's victories in their first three matches in Group A of the tournament secured their place in the semifinals midway through their match against India on Sunday. The defending champions were aware that a win would guarantee their spot in the semifinals. However, the required net run rate scenario to deny them a top-two finish in Group A became mathematically impossible during India's chase in Sharjah. Australia has a rich history in the tournament, having won it six times. They are currently aiming for a four-peat, having triumphed in each of the three previous editions – in 2018, 2020, and 2023.
Australia will face an opponent from Group B in the semifinals, with England, West Indies, and South Africa vying for qualification.
Batting first, Australia had a shaky start, losing two wickets for 17 runs in 2.5 overs. However, Grace Harris and stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath formed a crucial partnership of 62 runs for the third wicket. McGrath contributed 32 runs from 26 balls, while Harris scored a steady 40 runs from 41 balls. Ellyse Perry took charge in the middle overs, scoring 32 runs off 23 balls. Phoebe Litchfield and Annbel Sutherland provided the finishing touches, helping Australia cross the 150-run mark.
For India, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma each claimed two wickets, while Shreyanka Patil, Pooja Vastrakar, and Radha Yadav contributed one wicket each.
Harmanpreet Kaur's fifty in India's losing cause against Australia
Coming to chase the winning target, India lost their first wicket in the form of Shafali Verma (20 off 13) at the score of 26 runs in 3.3 overs. After a few overs, Smriti Mandhana also got out after scoring just 6 runs off 12 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues also lost her wicket after a good start with 16(12) scoring three boundaries. Following that, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (54 off 47) and Deepti Sharma took charge of the innings as the duo put up a partnership of 63 runs for the 4th wicket. Deepti got out in the 16th over after scoring 29(25) with three boundaries and after that Harmanpreet remained stranded on the crease as India suffered a batting collapse to ultimately go down to Australia.
