Australia end India’s hopes in World Cup

INDIA’s Women’s T20 World Cup campaign ended in the group stage after Australia chased down a target of 171 to register a six-wicket win at Lord’s last Sunday (28), while Harmanpreet Kaur was retained as captain of the Indian team for this year’s Asian Games despite the early exit.

Australia completed the chase with an over to spare to maintain their perfect record in Group A, winning all five matches to finish on top and qualify for the semi-finals. India, who needed a victory after South Africa defeated Bangladesh earlier in the day, were eliminated from the tournament.

The Asian Games, to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, will see India defend the gold medal they won at the previous edition in Hangzhou in 2023.

Australia suffered an early setback when opener Georgia Voll fell to the second ball of the chase. However, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner steadied the innings with a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket after the team had slipped to 68-3 in the 10th over.

Perry scored 56 off 38 balls before being dismissed by Shree Charani with just three runs needed, while Gardner remained unbeaten on 53 from 29 deliveries to guide Australia home.

“We obviously got to see how India bat and knew it was a good wicket and just needed a good partnership,” Perry, who was named player of the match, said.

“Hopefully, two more big games to go. But focus will be on the semi-finals first.”

India had posted 170-4 after captain Harmanpreet Kaur struck 56 off 27 balls, including three sixes and six fours. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a solid start with a 66-run opening stand before the middle order slowed the scoring.

Jemimah Rodrigues made 34 off 28 balls before being retired out in the closing stages, while Harmanpreet accelerated at the end as India added 36 runs in the final two overs. The total was India’s highest against Australia in a Women’s T20 World Cup match.

The defeat ended India’s hopes of winning their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title and completing a double after last year’s One-Day International World Cup triumph. It also marked the second successive edition in which India failed to reach the semi-finals following their group-stage exit in 2024.

Earlier, South Africa booked their place in the last four with a four-wicket win over Bangladesh at Lord’s. Chasing 118, South Africa lost captain Laura Wolvaardt to the first ball of the innings when Marufa Aktar bowled her with an inswinger. Dane van Niekerk was dismissed for three as South Africa reached 59-3 at the halfway stage.

Annerie Dercksen top-scored with 45 before edging behind in the 15th over. The chase became tense after Marizanne Kapp was run out for 16 and Nadine de Klerk was caught at deep midwicket with five runs still required.

Chloe Tryon then edged a boundary before hitting through the off side to seal victory with four balls remaining. Bangladesh had earlier made 117-5 after Sobhana Mostary scored 42 and captain Nigar Sultana remained unbeaten on 32. Marizanne Kapp had struck with the first ball of the match, bowling Juairiya Ferdous. The final will be played at Lord’s on Sunday (5).

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India retained Harmanpreet as captain of a largely unchanged 15-member squad for the Asian Games despite the team’s World Cup campaign ending in the group stage. India will head to Aichi-Nagoya as defending champions after winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.