Last Updated on 12 months by Charbel Coorey
AUS vs IND T20 World Cup 2024 Reactions: India have experienced heartbreak in a run chase against Australia once again, this time falling short by nine runs in their 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup match in Sharjah.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s team were looking well placed to chase Australia’s 151/8, with 42 needed off 26 balls with the set captain and Deepti Sharma at the crease. However, they lost 6/31 to leave their semi-final hopes resting firmly on Pakistan.
Things started well for India, with Renkua Singh taking two wickets in the third over to leave Australia tottering at 17/2. However, Australia’s very long batting lineup came to the fore. Annabel Sutherland, who has a Test double hundred, was batting at eight. Grace Harris (40 off 41), Tahlia McGrath (32 off 26) and Ellyse Perry (32 off 23) fought hard to get the Australians to a competitive score, helped also by India’s questionable fielding, Phoebe Litchfield’s 9-ball 15*, and Sutherland’s 10 off six.
India needed their experienced players to deliver with the bat. However, they also started in shaky fashion, falling to 47/3 off 6.5 overs. Smriti Mandhana struggled in particular, with her six off 12 balls putting India behind the eight ball.
Harmanpreet and Deepti strung together a partnership, but they needed to finish the job. The captain remained unbeaten, but she and her teammates never got any real momentum going apart from a few deliveries against a disciplined Australian attack.
Also, Harmanpreet’s call to take singles in the final over when India needed 14 – where she faced just two balls – has come for scrutiny. In the end, Annabel Sutherland was the star of the final over, keeping her nerve to defend the runs.
Reactions to the AUS vs IND match at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup: Australia continue on their merry way
Ultimately, it’s the little things that matter. Australia ran and fielded better. For India to reach their potential, the one-percenters is the area they must nail.
Australia are through to another World Cup semi-final. As mentioned, India’s hopes rest on a Pakistan win against New Zealand, but by less than 53 runs (if Pakistan bats first).
