Australia Secures Nail-Biting Victory, Advances to Semi-Finals; India's Fate Hangs in the Balance

Indian’s World T20 League semi-final hopes have taken a dash after a nine-run loss to Australia in their final group-stage match. The women in blue have lost two out of their four matches and will rely on the NZ vs PAK match result scheduled for tomorrow. Any margin of victory for the White Ferns will knock out India from the competition but a Pakistan victory will decide the semi-finalists on net run rate. 

Besides the permutations, the tournament finally got the cliffhanger it had been exclaiming in a high-octane clash at a sold-out Sharjah stadium. The spectators were treated with a nail-biting affair with both sides profoundly aware of what was at stake amid injury issues. The defending champions were without their skipper, opening batter and wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy, who was seen on crutches after picking up a foot injury against Pakistan, and Tayla Vlaeminck, who had been ruled out of the tournament. 

India also had plenty of injury concerns to deal with. They lost Asha Sobhana to a knee injury, who was replaced in the XI after the toss. Radha Yadav, who had played as a substitute fielder in the previous matches, was brought in Asha’s place. Later, Renuka Singh left the field limping after bowling her quota of four overs but returned to face the last ball of the match. 

By then, India’s chances of winning the game were gone after their run chase started splendidly but was jolted by wickets at crucial junctures. They were reduced to 47/3 in the seventh over before a 63-run partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma put them back on course. Following this stand, we witnessed a batting collapse of 6 for 31 and despite a second consecutive half-century from Kaur, India fell a few runs short. 

Australia were atypically messy in the field, failed to hold onto two easy chances and bowled four wides and a no-ball but had enough at their disposal to defend. Grace Harris, who opened in place of Healy was their top scorer with a 41-ball 40 and stitched a 62-run partnership, that steadied Australia’s ship after two early losses. Ellyse Perry's late blitz at the end ensured Australia crossed the 150-run mark.