Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Australia Hand India Heart-Breaking Defeat; Qualify For Semis As Group Winners

Australia Women Beat India Women: India's hopes for semis have taken a huge hit, as they have lost their last group game to reigning champions. Read below for details.

Australia qualify for semis as group winners with a 9-run win over India

Source : ICC

Australia Women Beat India Women: Australia Women keep their historic unbeaten streak in Women's T20 World Cups alive, as the reigning champions and six-time winners hand India Women a heart-breaking defeat in Match 18 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024.

Australia overcome a Harmanpreet Kaur special to book a semi-final spot in the Women's #T20WorldCup 2024 👌#WhateverItTakes | #INDvAUS 📝: https://t.co/AsbERD5ng6 pic.twitter.com/kjVgHdp9ge

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 13, 2024

With the 9-run defeat, India's hopes of qualifying for semi-finals are all but over, as the side needs a close win for Pakistan Women against New Zealand Women.

India Women Vs Australia Women, Women's T20 World Cup 2024 | As It Happened

Upon winning the coin toss, vice-captain Tahila McGrath (stand-in captain due to absence of Alyssa Healy) elected to bat first, but her side stepped a wrong footing into the match, as they were reduced to 17/2 in 3 overs via excellent bowling from Renuka Thakur, wbho dismissed Beth Mooney and Georgia Wareham on consecutive deliveries.

READ HERE | India Women Vs Australia Women: Renuka Thakur's Twin-Strike Rattles Reigning Champions' Top-Order | WATCH

Grace Harris and Tahila McGrath provided stability to the innings of reigning T20 world champions, as the duo notched up a partnership of 62 off 54 balls, which eventually proved to be the turning point of the match, and gave Australia Women a platform to capitalise upon.

A late surge from the middle and lower order propelled them to a 150+ score, which is way too much for a side chasing a Sharjah Cricket Ground... ON A USED PITCH!

Ellyse Perry once again played a vital knock, as her knock of 32 alongside quickfire 15 off 9 from Phoebe Litchfield gave their bowlers a handsome total to defend.

Needing a quick win keeping in mind the Net Run Rate scenario, Indian opening duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were off to a flyer, but succumbed under pressure, as Australia Women fought back with wickets at regular intervals.

Apart from Harmanpreet Kaur, no other batter managed to cross the 30-run mark, and India needed 14 runs in the last over to win, but ended up losing 4 wickets for 4 runs, thereby, resulting in a 9-run win for Aussies.