Australia Edge India by Nine Runs to Secure T20 World Cup Semi-Final Spot

Australia booked their place in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with a narrow nine-run victory over India in Sharjah. The defending champions, now unbeaten in all four group games, are guaranteed to top Group A, while India face an anxious wait to see if they will join them in the final four.

India, needing 152 to win, put up a spirited fight in front of a large crowd. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls, but despite keeping up with the required run rate for much of the chase, India fell short. Australia’s Annabel Sutherland bowled a tight final over, conceding just four runs while picking up three wickets to secure victory.

Australia had earlier posted 151-8, their highest score of the tournament, after recovering from early trouble at 17-2. Grace Harris top-scored with 40, while Ellyse Perry and stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath added valuable contributions of 32 each. Renuka Singh Thakur starred with the ball for India, taking 2-24, including two early wickets.

India, who now need New Zealand to lose to Pakistan and rely on net run-rate to progress, showed resilience with Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma’s 63-run stand raising hopes, but Australia’s bowlers held firm in the crucial final overs.

Reactions:

• Tahlia McGrath, Australia’s stand-in captain: “We knew India would come hard at us, and I’m proud we held our nerve.”
• Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s captain: “It’s not in our hands anymore. Now, whichever team deserves to be there will be there.”