Australia has secured its place in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup following a thrilling nine-run victory against India, leaving the latter team in a tense position regarding their own qualification.
The defending champions dominated Group A, winning all four of their matches, while India, currently in second place, must now await the outcome of New Zealand’s match against Pakistan on Monday. To progress, India needs New Zealand to lose and must maintain a better net run-rate (NRR) than both teams.
Chasing a target of 152, India was bolstered by a passionate crowd in Sharjah and started aggressively. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a crucial role, scoring an impressive 54 runs off 47 balls. As the match reached its climax, India required 14 runs from the final over to secure a win.
However, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, conceding just four runs in the over while taking three wickets, ensuring her team’s victory.
Earlier in the match, Australia, missing their injured captain Alyssa Healy, had bounced back from losing two early wickets to post a total of 151 for 8, marking their highest score of the tournament. Opener Grace Harris was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 40 runs off 41 balls, while Ellyse Perry and stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath each contributed 32 runs.
