Harmanpreet Kaur’s 52 and Jemimah Rodrigues' 43 went in vain as India lost to defending champions Australia by five runs in women’s T20 World Cup 2023 semi-final at Newlands, Cape Town. Meg Lanning-led Australia continued their dominance as they continued their unbeaten run to enter their seventh consecutive T20 World Cup final.
Poor start
In the run chase, India started off with a 10-run over. Shafali's stay at the crease was short-lived as Megan Schutt trapped her in front of the stumps. In the next over, Smriti Mandhana got out lbw as well. Mandhana was deceived by Asleigh Gardner's arm ball. Jemimah Rodrigues' arrival to the crease was a breath of fresh air as she started off with two boundaries. In the fourth over India suffered another blow as Yastika Bhatika threw her wicket away. Yastika got run out trying to sneak a non-existent quick single. India were 28/3 in the fourth over.
Harmanpreet-Jemimah reignite India's chances
Harmanpreet walked out with confidence and started off with a boundary off Darcie Brown. Ellyse Perry started off poorly as she conceded 14 runs in her first over. Harmanpreet and Jemimah cashed in on loose deliveries and hit one boundary each. The first six of the innings came in the sixth over. Harmanpreet danced down the track and hit a massiv six off left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen. The partnership turned 50 in the ninth over as pressure was on Australian bowlers. Jemimah hit two more boundaries in the 10th over. At halfway stage, India were 93/3 and needed 80 more runs to win.
Jemimah departs
In the next over, Jemimah hit another boundary. She went for a cut shot trying to uppercut Brown but ended up handing an easy catch to wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy. She got out after scoring 43 runs off 24 deliveries including six fours. In the 13th over, Harmanpreet got a reprieve as she got dropped by Healy. She was on 36 then. Tahlia McGrath erred and conceded 13 runs in her first over.
Harmanpreet's unlucky dismissal
With two consecutive boundaries, Harmanpreet reached her first half-century of the tournament from 32 deliveries. Despite being in great touch, Harmanpreet seemed as if she wasn't able to recover from the fever. She ran to get a second but almost jogged. She could have completed the second run easily but the bat got stuck in the crease and Healy took the bails off in a flash. Harmanpreet got run out after a scintillating 34-ball 52 which brought India back in the game.
No firepower in slog overs
Richa got a few boundaries but struggled for timing. The dot ball pressure mounted on her and she mistimed one to McGrath off Brown's bowling in the 16th over. She scored 14 runs off 17 deliveries. Sneh Rana kept the game alive with a boundary in the 18th over. Jonassen bowled a brilliant penultimate over conceding just four runs and getting Rana's wicket. She scored 11 runs off 10 deliveries.
India needed 16 runs to win off the final over. Deepti played a few good shots but Australian fielders were on the mark and saved boundaries. Radha went for a big heave off the first ball he faced and got caught at long-on. Gardner continued to bowl well. Deepti hit a boundary off the last ball but it was not enough to take India over the line. India lost the match by five runs.
Good bowling, poor fielding
India’s new-ball bowlers did not get a single wicket but bowled well in the powerplay overs. It was India’s fielding that let them down as they conceded extra runs. The first six of the innings came in the sixth over off Deepti. Radha Yadav broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Healy. The opener got out stumped for a 26-ball 25. In the next over, India had a chance to dismiss Meg Lanning for a single-digit score but Richa could not hold on to the ball. In the next over Mooney went for a big shot and got dropped by Shafali at long-on. She was batting on 32 then. At halfway stage, Australia were 69/1.
Dropped catches, Lanning goes ballistic
Mooney accelerated and hit three boundaries after getting dropped. She reached her half-century from 34 deliveries. Shikha Pandey managed to get Mooney's wicket as Shafali made up for her mistake and took a sharp catch at point. The boundaries dried up for the next two overs and it seemed like India were making a comeback. But Sneh's last over turned out to be expensive as she conceded 14 runs. Gardner played a much-needed cameo. Deepti got the wicket of Gardner in the 18th over but she had done her job with an 18-ball 31. In the penultimate over Pandey got hit for a boundary but decieved Grace Harris with a slower delivery to take her wicket. 12 runs came in the penultimate over. Renuka was tasked with the responsibility to bowl the final over. Lanning started off with a six and four. She finished the innings with a six as Australia posted 172/4. The skipper remained unbeaten for 49 off 34 deliveries including four fours and two sixes.
