Australia have beaten India by 5 runs in the first semifinal of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 at the Newlands, Cape Town to knock the Women in Blue out of the tournament. The win has taken the Aussies into yet another final, having previously won all their summit clashes.
While contributions from Beth Mooney (54 off 37), captain Meg Lanning (49* off 34) and Ashleigh Gardner (31 off 18) helped Australia post a commanding 172/4, the Aussies then returned to pick 3 Indian wickets inside the first 4 overs. However, the Indian batting duo of Jemiamah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur stitched a fine partnership worth 69 off 41 to help India get back into the game.
Australia though managed to strike just at the right time first removing Rodrigues in the first over after the drinks break and later luck also favoured the defending champions as Harmanpreet's bat got stuck while she was looking to drag it back into the crease while returning for a double. While one could also point out that Harmanpreet was a little slow in the second run perhaps underestimating how quick the return throw will come from the fielder in the deep. The Aussies, however, showed great match awareness to get that wicket when 33-year-old looked determined to take the game away from the opposition.
Ashleigh Gardener, the Player of the Match, after her brisk cameo with the bat returned to first dismiss the Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana before successfully defending 16 runs in the last over, also dismissing Radha Yadav in the last over. Even though Harmanpreet did get a few chances, one of the difference between the two teams was their fielding efforts with the Indian side guilty of quite of a few misfields and missed wicket opportunites.
Australia will now meet the winner of the second semifinal between England and South Africa at the Newlands in Cape Town.