Women’s T20 World Cup 2023: Heartbreak for India in semi-final as Australia reach 7th successive final

So close, yet so far for India once again! Harmanpreet Kaur’s side fell to familiar foes Australia in the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2023 in Cape Town on Thursday, February 23.

Unlike the T20 World Cup 2020 final, it was not a one-way traffic as Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues put on a stunning show with the bat in their chase of 173 but the Asian champions fell short of the finish line by 5 runs.

Harmanpreet Kaur was on course to lead India to another famous win over Australia after the 2017 heroics in England but she was run-out in one of the most unfortunate manners after she got to her fifty. The Indian skipper, who recovered from illness to be ready for the big clash, looked distraught and slammed her bat on her way up the dressing room at the Newlands as India stumbled to get past the finish line.

Australia successfully defended 172 as India managed 167 for 8 in their quota of 20 overs.

India were rattled in the powerplay as they lost their star openers Smriti Mandhana (2) and Shafali Verma (9) to Ash Gardner and Megan Schutt. Yastika Bhatia, who was brought back to the XI to bolster the batting unit, failed to get going (4) as India were reduced to 28 for 3.

However, India kept themselves in the hunt with a stunning 69-run stand for the 4th wicket between captain Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues in just 46 balls. The two Indian batters looked so comfortable as they hit boundaries with ease against the high-quality Australian attack.

It was the young Jemimah, who took the attack to the Australian spinners, flaunting her wide range of shots. However, she fell for 43 while trying to hit Darcie Brown in her final over.

Harmanpreet still kept India’s hopes alive, racing to a fifty but she was out in the 15th over when her bat got stuck in the ground while completing a double. Harmanpreet looked distraught as she smashed her bat on the ground en route to the dressing room.

Richa Ghosh (!4) and Deepti Sharma (20) chipped in but Australia held their nerves and defended 16 runs in the final over to progress to another final.

It was Australia’s 7th successive final in the T20 World Cup as the world champions kept their hopes of winning a hat-trick of titles and their 6th title overall in the tournament alive. Australia will meet the winner of the 2nd semi-final between England and South Africa in Sunday’s final.

SLOPPY INDIA ALLOW AUSTRALIA TO SCORE BIG

Earlier in the day, India looked scratchy on the field as they allowed Australia to score freely in the powerplay. India’s fielding woes came to the fore as it looked like the Asian champions felt the pressure of the occasion.

Australia scored 43 runs in the powerplay without taking a lot of risks with Beth Mooney steering the charge. Alyssa Healy, who returned to the XI after recovering from a quad injury, did take her time. Mooney was dropped on 32 by Shafali Verma as Radha Yadav was denied her second wicket after Healy fell in the 8th over after a 52-run opening stand. It was a simple opportunity at long-on but Shafali was not able to hold on to it, deliveries after Radha had Healy stumped on 25.

Mooney and Meg Lanning, who was dropped on 1 by Richa Ghosh in Sneh Rana’s first over, added a 36-run stand for the 2nd wicket before veteran Shikha Pandey got the big wicket of the opener. The left-handed Mooney fell for 54 off 37 balls.

Australia got the much-needed spark in the middle overs from the fiery Ash Gardner, who took the onus on herself to keep the scoreboard moving even as captain Lanning was struggling to get going. Gardner hit 31 off 18 balls, including 5 boundaries, to give Australia a great platform to go big.

Deepti Sharma, who had bowled 3 overs in the powerplay, came on to bowl her final over and picked up the crucial wicket of Gardner with a fine yorker after which Shikha Pandey got the big wicket of big-hitter Grace Harris for 7.

However, Lanning switched gears and took the attack to the Indian bowlers in the final few overs to help Australia post 172 for 4 in 20 overs. Lanning finished with a huge six as Renuka Singh Thakur gave away 42 runs in her 4-over spell without taking a wicket.

Lanning was unbeaten on 49, including 4 boundaries and 2 sixes, off just 34 balls as Australia collected 61 runs in the last 5 overs of their innings.