Finishing woes: Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten fifty in vain as Australia dent India’s semifinal hopes with 9-run win

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur struck an unbeaten 54 but India’s nine-run loss to six-time champions Australia took her side’s fate for a semifinal spot out of their hands in the women’s T20 World Cup. With Australia marching into the semifinals undefeated, the defeat meant India will now have to wait for the outcome of third-placed New Zealand’s match against Pakistan on Monday. A win for New Zealand will see them leapfrogging India.

Chasing 152, India were bolstered by Harmanpreet’s fifty (54 not out off 47 balls, 6x4s) and her 63-run stand for the fourth wicket with Deepti Sharma (29), but they crumbled under pressure to be restricted to 142/9 in 20 overs. With 28 needed off the last two overs, India took 14 off the penultimate over. Needing 14 runs from the last over, they lost as many as four wickets to concede the game to Australia, as Harmanpreet was stranded on the other end.

India paid the price for sloppy fielding and also leaving it too late in the run chase. Only two fours were hit between 7.4 and the end of the 14th over as Harmanpreet hit her first boundary off her 15th ball.

India’s lack of initiative resulted in the asking rate zooming past 10 per over and 53 from the last five, but a four each from both Deepti and Harmanpreet in the 16th over did, even though momentarily, raise hopes.

Deepti found Wareham at the deep midwicket, perishing for a 25-ball 29 with three fours. If Deepti’s dismissal broke India’s momentum, Richa Ghosh’s (1) run out three balls later off a superb direct hit from Phoebe Litchfield dealt a body blow to India’s hopes.

Harmanpreet also had luck favouring her when Darcie Brown spilled a catch while diving forward at deep backward square leg, off Wareham in the 13th over, when she was on 15.

At the start of run chase, Shafali showed the right intent but perished soon. Jemimah Rodrigues hit consecutive fours to put pressure back on Australia but Smriti Mandhana’s struggle to find any momentum with the bat met a disappointing end. India’s misfortune persisted when Jemimah, looking in red-hot form, hit one straight to deep midwicket.

Earlier, Renuka Singh Thakur (2/24) and Deepti (2/28) played pivotal roles in the bowling department but Australia posted 151/8 after opting to bat. While Renuka struck twice early on, Deepti grabbed the crucial wickets of Grace Harris (40) and Ellyse Perry (32) in the later stages.

India captain Harmanpreet rued failing to capitalise on loose balls during her stand with Deepti. “When Deepti and I were batting, that time we were not able to utilise a few loose balls. We could have controlled the boundaries. I think we were still in the game,” said Harmanpreet.

“But then again, as we know their (Australia’s) experience, they know how to win games like that. We have to learn from them,” she said. “I think the difference between them and us is their fielding. They didn’t give us easy runs. I think they have definitely the experience. They have played so many World Cups together,” she said.

Harmanpreet hoped that India would get a chance to play in the semifinals but added that the best four teams will eventually qualify.

Brief scores: Australia: 151/8 in 20 overs (Harris 40; Renuka 2/24, Deepti 2/28); India: 142/9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet 54*; Sutherland 2/22, Molineux 2/32).