Sharjah [UAE], October 14: In a nail-biting finish, India fell just nine runs short of Australia in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup encounter, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur lamenting missed chances during a key partnership with Deepti Sharma.
Despite a solid fightback, Harmanpreet acknowledged, “When me and Deepti were batting, we could not hit a few loose balls. We can learn a lot from Australia.” Her analysis pointed out that the difference lay in Australia’s depth: “Their entire team contributes… they have a lot of all-rounders who chip in, unlike just one or two players.”
India, chasing 152, faced early setbacks but saw some hope through a crucial partnership between Harmanpreet (54* off 47) and Deepti Sharma (29 off 25). However, with 14 runs needed in the final over, Annabel Sutherland’s disciplined bowling sealed the match for Australia, as they finished with four wins from four games to book a spot in the semifinals.
Reflecting on Radha Yadav’s performance, Harmanpreet lauded her teammate: “Radha bowled really well, she was in the game and fielding well. You need a character like that in the team.” Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma were also standout performers with the ball, each taking two wickets.
India’s fate in the tournament now hinges on the outcome of the New Zealand versus Pakistan match, with a potential run-rate calculation deciding their progression to the semifinals.
Australia’s well-rounded team displayed resilience throughout, with top performances from Sutherland (2/22), Molineux (2/32), and solid contributions from batters Grace Harris (40 off 41) and Tahlia McGrath (32 off 26).
As the tournament heads towards its final stages, India will hope for another opportunity, knowing they were just a few key moments away from victory.
