India vs Australia Highlights, Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur’s fifty in vain as AUS beat IND by 9 runs

Sophie Molineux: It was a really good game, India came out hard. It was a quality game and it went down to the wire. We wanted to stay calm, she (On McGrath's captaincy) did a great job too. When the pressure was on, we bounced back. (On the crowd being loud) It was very loud, I felt it was one-sided towards India. We said that we will talk loudly and look towards our leader. It's massive, any game against India, you can mark it down it's going to be a tight one. To get over the line and the fact that everyone chipped in, it's great.

Annabel Sutherland to bowl the final over for Australia. They've been penalised for the slow over rate and will have an extra fielder inside the circle. Can India exploit that. Just a single off the first ball and Pooja Vastrakar is back on strike. Second ball: a full toss and Vastrakar misses on connecting and it crashes onto her stumps. Arundhati Reddy is the new batter in. Tries to take a single to get the skipper back on strike but is run out at the other end. Kaur is back on strike. A single follows, and Shreyanka Patil is back on strike. So India need two sixes off as many balls to win this one. You've got to think it's gone out of India's grasp, this one. A wide follows. Patil is interested in a single but Kaur sends her back. Meanwhile, Beth Mooney has taken the bails and has appealed for a run out. The umpires have gone for a check upstairs. It's tight from the side angle: 52-48 in Australia's favor. The third umpire though is not satisfied from just the one angle. The camera from behind the stumps isn't much clear but in the end, it's ruled in Australia's favor. A third wicket falls in the last over. The equation is 11 off the last two balls now.

Radha Yadav on strike. Sutherland with the incoming delivery and it thuds on the pads. LBW appeal and the umpire deems it out. India have gone for the review but it's flushing Radha right in the middle stump line. What a fantastic last over this has been! And it finishes with just the single off the last ball. Four runs given, when 14 were needed, and four wickets from the over. Australia finish their group stage with 100 percent record. India, so close, yet so far again. They'll now have to wait for the result of the New Zealand-Pakistan game. If the Black Ferns win that one, this will be the last game for Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. 

Sophie Molineux to bowl the penultimate over. Misfield off the very first ball of the over and India get an extra run. Pooja Vastrakar on strike, pitched full and it beats a diving fielder at cover-point. Four runs. 

Harmanpreet Kaur retains the strike, and finds a boundary. A slog-sweep attemped but it takes an outside edge and runs down the short third boundary for four. Fifty for the Indian skipper, and it's come at the time when they've needed her the most. Can she see this through? Bit of a pause in the game as she calls for drinks. Single off the last ball and she'll keep the strike. India need 14 runs off the last six balls.

The Indian captain taking the attack to Ash Gardener with consecutive boundaries on the off side. First up, a lofted shot through the extra cover region for four. Then, a conventional cut shot in front of square - same result. India are 124/5 after 18 overs. The equation has come down to 28 runs required off the last 12 balls.

NEARLY A MAIDEN WICKET! Harmanpreet squeezes out a single off the last ball otherwise that would have been an incredible wicket-maiden. 

NEARLY A MAIDEN WICKET! Harmanpreet squeezes out a single off the last ball otherwise that would have been an incredible wicket-maiden. 

RUN OUT: Richa finds the fielder at cover, but Harman calls her for a run. The youngster is not the greatest runner between the wickets. Litchfield nails a direct hit. 

Is that the end of India's semifinal hopes? Surely Harmanpreet can't finish this on her own from here?

Richa Ghosh run out (Phoebe Litchfield) 1 (3 balls)

A 12-run over thanks to boundaries for Harmanpreet and Deepti, but the latter falls as well just as she was getting a move on. 

Richa Ghosh walks in and she has very little time to get her eye in. 

Required rate stays just over 10 now. 

Is there a change in momentum? No, halted! Deepti with another sweep over short-fine for four, but does the right thing in deciding to keep going. That actually looked like a nice lofted shot over midwicket but it starts dipping and Wareham takes the catch a few yards inside the boundary ropte. 

Deepti Sharma c Georgia Wareham b Sophie Molineux 29 (25 balls) 

After 15.1 overs, both India and Australia are 101. 

A full toss to Deepti Sharma is deeemed to be a no ball (harsh, but Wareham got away with a wide earlier). But Harmanpreet is not able to put the free hit away, dancing down the track but the pace on the ball just not there. Deepti however makes it a decent over with a four off the last ball, she too really needs to get a move on. 

Match predictor shows 23% chance for India to win this... perhaps the Harmanpreet factor? Otherwise it is hard to see at the moment. 

Oh, that's a proper seam-bowler bouncer from the offspinner Gardner. Tries to surprise Harman, I suppose, but the Indian captain is quickly on to this and pulls it away. Even the magnificent boundary-stopping Ellyse Perry couldn't get to it. 

The timing is still deserting the Indian captain. And when she does time it, she is finding the fielders. A cover drive nailed, but straight to the fielder at extra cover.

And with that over, India's required rate becomes 10 RPO. 

Sums up India's night? A full toss from Sutherland, about hip high, Harmanpreet powers it through to deep square leg and Ellyse Perry - who is a stunning outfielder - stops it like it is just another day in the office. 

DROPPED: But that is a tough one. Darcie Brown dives forward as Harman plays a lofted slog sweep. She gets to the ball though and then is unable to hold on. Is that the sign for Harman to kick on from? 

An 8-run over is par for the course at this stage but India need to keep that going. 

How important is Richa Ghosh at this point for India? There is going to a lot of pressure on her whenever she comes to bat. 

For the record... Australia have qualified for the semifinals because we are past 10.2 overs. 

And in that instance, Harmanpreet also ends a mini drought of fours for India. A well-timed (WV Raman must have had a smile) shot over square leg for four off Darcie Brown. 

India are technically ahead of Australia at this stage but then came a strong second half thanks to their incredible batting depth. 

Time for drinks, and plenty of food for though for the Indians. 

Harmanpreet tries to play a cheeky sweep, the ball clips the watch on her left hand but falls safely. However she needs to put the watch back on. And WV Raman comes up with one of the cleverest quips you will hear on air. “Now that she has put her watch back on, let’s see if her timing improves from here on…” That is smart(watch)!

Meanwhile., Molineux finishes a solid over and the pressure mounts on India. 

Six singles in that Sutherland over, and nearly a wicket off the last ball. Cut by Deepti, lofted, but a diving Molineux can't quite hold on. 

The required rate is starting to creep up, India need 89 off 66 balls. 

A boundary for Deepti Sharma as Wareham comes into the attack, swept fine for a four. She has to put in a full length dive off the last ball, to prevent herself from getting run out. 

Deepti Sharma is in at No 5, perhaps the surest sign yet that India are just focussing on winning this match now and not thinking about NRR. (Otherwise you imagine Richa would have come in). 

Reminder that NRR doesn't really matter if India lose this (they will still be mathematically alive but effectively out). 

JEMIMAH GONE: And this is slowly but surely slipping away from India now. Once again, good intent shown by Jemi here but you have to wonder where all this was in the first two matches for India. Anyway, she takes on a short ball from Schutt trying to go big down square leg but caught.

Jemimah Rodrigues c Ash Gardner b Megan Schutt 16 (12 balls)

End of the powerplay for India. Two wickets lost, but good intent shown. How much can they push on from here? Jemimah and Harmanpreet are critical for India's chances, but they also can't afford to lose wickets because they don't have the depth that Australia possess. 

BIG WICKET! Is that the game for India? Whenever India do beat Australia in recent times, they have relied on good starts. But they have lost both their openers today. GREAT REVIEW this time. Molineux fires one in quick and Mandhana misses the ball completely and is plumb in front. Surprised it wasn't given out on field. RCB bowler gets RCB captain. 

Smriti Mandhana lbw b Sophie Molineux 6 (12 balls) 

Australia burn a review. Jemimah walked down the pitch and across as well but Australia think this is in line with the stumps. Mooney was really convinced from behind the stumps. Two superb lofted fours from Jemimah down the ground for a couple of boundaries to keep India's momentum going. Good over for India. Jemi punches the bat after the first of those two fours and then promptly calms herself down before playing an even better shot. 

Like last match, by the way, Smriti is once again on 6 off 11 balls. She accelerated precisely from this point. 

Jemimah Rodrgues is the new batter in as she joins Smriti Mandhana. India keep shuffling their No 3. 

Will India keep going hard now or just focus on the win? 

SHAFALI FALLS: Gardner is perhaps Australia's most important bowler today, along with Wareham especially if India try to go hard. Good intent from Shafali but her slog sweep is straight to long on. Needed to hit that a bit squarer. 

Shafali Verma c Annabel Sutherland b Ash Gardner 20 (13 balls)

Shafali Verma's first six of the World Cup! A lofted drive on the offisde, the stable base that she is very dangerous from. A four earlier in the over too. 

India showing good intent early on. Shafali with a lofted sweep to finish the 2nd over by Gardner, for a four. India need a good powerplay for any real chance to put NZ. under pressure tomorrow. 

An aggressive lofted shot by Shafali to start off, the ball plugs in the outfield. Mandhana too with a cover drive for two. 

FOR THE RECORD: India have to chase this in 10.2 overs to overtake Australia's NRR. So... that's not happening. Now they have to hope to chase this as quickly as possible to make NZ's equation harder. 

SIX TO FINISH THE MATCH: What a shot by Litchfield. Any of these big hits matter a lot on low-scoring wickets. Superb from Australia after two early wickets. India can't even think about a big win at this stage, to be honest. Just have to win and keep fingers crossed. 

Oh, that's a comedy of errors. Jemimah first drops a low catch diving forward at point, the batter doesn't realise and is starting to walk back halfway down the pitch. Jemimah throws it Shreyanka and run out. 

Sophie Molineux run out Shreyanka Patil 0 (1 ball)

A couple of handy boundaries from Sutherland in the end, that is all a No 8 needs to really. But India do well to keep picking up the wickets. Shreyanka strikes in the last over. 

Annabel Sutherland b Shreyanka Patil 10 (6 balls)

FOR THAT LBW WHEN REVERSE SWEEPTING: The rule states that the off side of the striker’s wicket shall be determined by the striker’s batting position at the moment the ball comes into play for that delivery. 

Which means when the bowler starts her run up if we are not mistaken.

Decent finish all said and done by India. But they are, right now, effectively paying the price for their performances in the first two matches. Sutherland hits a first-ball four but 7 runs in the 19th over is not bad. 

And of course, the firepower keeps coming in. Sutherland, with a career T20I strike rate of 140+ comes in at No 8. 

DEEPTI STRIKES AGAIN: India have done well to keep picking up the wickets, but it is Australia's brilliance (and Perry's brilliance) that 140 is imminent. Perry is now out caught at deep square leg by Sajana. A sub fielder, presumably in for Renuka. 

Ellyse Perry c sub Sajana b Deepti Sharma 32 (23 balls)

Radha Yadav with a tidy 5-run over, given the situation. 

Meanwhile, India have to bowl two overs with a fielding penalty for slow over-rates. 

Big over for Australia, and already we can effectively rule out India overtaking them on NRR. Effectively, Australia are through to the semifinals now. Mathematically too. A four for Litchfield and then a four for Perry too. 

LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA: A predictable reverse sweep from Litchfield, but Deepti beats her for pace and gets the LBW decision from the umpire on field. The DRS shows that the ball pitches outside leg stump. Even though she is effectively batting right-handed for that shot, she is still a leftie though. Not sure what the confusion was there about. 

(But surely a rule worth revisiting in the future) 

One of the biggest praises for young Shreyanka Patil in her young career came from Ellyse Perry, when the Aussie star waxed lyrical about the Indian spinner during the first edition of WPL. 

But tonight, none of that matters. A four and a six to finish that 16th over. Both down the leg side. What a batter! 

Litchfield, one of the brightest talents in the game, is No 7 for Australia. Just crazy depth. 

GARDNER GONE: Radha with another really good high catch, she is a gun fielder. Good bowling from Pooja, after getting hit for a four from the length ball earlier in the over, Vastrakar digs one in short and Gardner is able to just find the fielder at point. 

India have lost BOTH reviews: There was a definite noise there as Gardner tried to drive over the offside. But that's a good call from the umpire, it was ball hitting the pitch. 

How important will that Deepti over be for India? 

Meanwhile, the catch efficiency chart is back and India are still top with 79.1% despite that drop by Harmanpreet today. 

HUGE WICKET! Deepti Sharma gets her UP Warriorz teammate and gives her a sendoff too, wow. Shortish ball, Harris goes for the pull and Mandhana takes a sharp catch at midwicket. 

Harris could have really been a big problem for India in terms of the target they would be chasing. Timely wicket. 

Grace Harris c Smriti Mandhana b Deepti Sharma 40 (41 balls)

India needs to win the game on Sunday to stay alive in the competition and qualify for the semifinals. However, if beating Australia in itself is a difficult enough challenge India has to do it with a certain margin to overtake Australia's Net Run Rate and stay immune to the result of the game between New Zealand and Pakistan on Monday. India can go past Australia’s NRR if they are chasing 120 only if they manage to do it in 10.1 overs.

Even a close win for India might put them in a difficult situation because New Zealand take on Pakistan in Monday, knowing their equation well. If India chase down 120 in 18 overs, then New Zealand must not win by a margin more than 31 runs. If NZ scores 140, then Pakistan must score at least 109. Anything less than that, then NZ will overtake India’s NRR and qualify.

This is starting to look ominous for India. Grace Harris has been living dangerously but she is now into her groove, a super lofted off drive followed by a sweep for two boundaries in that Arundhati over. Sloppy last delivery from the Indian pacer. 

And now Harris is up to a strike rate of 100. If India don't get her soon, she will make them pay. 

McGrath goes, Perry comes in. Just Aussie things. What an eventful over that was. 

BREAKTHROUGH: Harmanpreet Kaur is perhaps the happiest, or most relieved person in Sharjah at this moment. A big roar from her and a hug to Radha Yadav as McGrath is dismissed very soon. The Aussie captain was looking dangerous. 

Tahlia McGrath st Richa Ghosh b Radha Yadav 32 (26 balls) 

DROPPED! That is a shocker of a miss form the most unlikely of sources. McGrath, on 31 off 24 at this point, hits one to Harman at extra cover and the Indian captain puts down a sitter. The best fielder in this side arguably, the best catcher without a doubt. 

By the way, that over started with a chance for Vastrakar, deep in the leg side. But it fell short of her. That brought up the fifty-run partnership between these two and Australia are actually in charge of this at the moment. Remember, the more Australia score, the farther away goes India's chance. 

Ohhh, a good LBW appeal from India but it is not given as McGrath misses a dipping full toss. But the angle is too much, as per ballt-tracking. Renuka Singh Thakur's work with the ball is over, and she finishes with 4-0-24-2. India will be hoping she doesn't have to bat. 

Renuka Singh Thakur will bowl out her 4th over. 

Deepti Sharma is into the attack fairly late this time, usually see her bowl at least one in the powerplay. Starts off with a tidy over. India really need some control in the middle overs, but also a wicket or two. Australia have plenty of firepower left. 

A good stop by Harman at extra cover to stop a over and make it a 5-run over as we head into the drinks break. 

Also worth noting in the last over, Deepti put down a low catch at point. Harris surely hit that cut shot hard, and it dipped on Deepti, but that would go down as a missed half-chance.