Australia is one win away from a 3rd consecutive ladies’s T20 World Cup title, however solely after they survived an almighty scare from an Indian crew which might have received had Harmanpreet Kaur not been run out in brutal circumstances.
India seemed in all kinds of bother when it misplaced three wickets within the first 4 overs whereas chasing Australia’s imposing whole of 4/172, however a 69-run partnership between Kaur (52 off 34) and Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 24) swung momentum its means.
The pair had India properly above the required run price when Rodrigues was caught behind off Darcie Brown’s bowling simply after the drinks break, and luck going their means when Alyssa Healy dropped Kaur on 36 with India nonetheless needing 64 for victory.
Kaur made essentially the most of her life to deliver up a half-century, having frolicked in hospital coping with sickness main as much as the match.
However her heroics ended within the fifteenth over when a regulation try to run for 2 resulted in tragedy when her bat plugged within the turf simply in need of her crease, permitting Healy to whip off the bails to have Kaur run out in a global T20 for the primary time in 5 years.
It was the start of the top for India, whose hopes have been dashed when Richa Ghosh – its final recognised batter – was caught on the boundary on Brown’s last ball.
India fell 5 runs in need of what would have been the best chase in World Cup historical past, with Ellyse Perry producing some moments of magic within the area to get Australia over the road as Ash Gardner held her nerve with the ball within the last over.
“Bowling the final over, I reckon my common coronary heart price was in all probability 190,” Gardner mentioned after accumulating the participant of the match award due to 31 runs and two wickets.
“I feel that reveals the way in which that we combat on the finish as a crew. That’s what we spoke about within the huddle proper on the finish – that we in all probability weren’t in a profitable place, however that’s what this crew does finest.
“When our backs are up towards the ball, we discover a means and we scrap actually exhausting.
“The combat that we confirmed reveals the character of this crew.”
MOONEY MAGIC
Whereas the boys’s Take a look at aspect resides out a nightmare on the subcontinent, the ladies are on observe for extra glory after seeing off the aspect they defeated three years in the past on a historic evening on the MCG.
Healy signalled her intent with a boundary from the primary ball of the match in her return from a quad harm as Australia’s high 4 all reached 25 to assist them put up a commanding whole.
Mooney continued her unbelievable summer time, with the Belinda Clark Award winner smashing her second half-century in three matches after a gradual begin to the match.
Her 54 took the sting out of the Indian assault earlier than skipper Meg Lanning got here in and blasted an unbeaten 49 off 34 together with two sixes within the last over as Australia piled on 103 runs from the ultimate 10 overs.
“I used to be getting just a little nervous,” Lanning mentioned after the sport.
“We received just a little fortunate with Kaur’s wicket, however we stayed within the recreation.”
OH MY GHOSH
The outdated adage that catches win matches got here again to hang-out India, with Ghosh arising with some expensive errors with the gloves.
The gifted teenager spilled a tricky probability when Lanning was on one because the skipper loved a little bit of luck in a chaotic few balls as she was caught moments later off a free hit.
She survived the drama however ought to have been stumped a few overs later when she was on 9, just for Ghosh to juggle the ball which gave Lanning sufficient time to get again in her crease.
Mooney was additionally given a life on 32 when Shafali Verma spilled a sitter on the boundary which proved telling in the long run.
“We gave some straightforward catches away,” Kaur mentioned.
“We’ve to take these possibilities.”
ROYAL HEADACHE
Alana King has been a mainstay of the Aussie crew since she made her worldwide T20 debut simply over a yr in the past, however she’s now combating for a spot within the decider after lacking out on choice in Friday’s semi-final.
The gifted leg-spinner was economical however went wicketless within the 4 pool video games, prompting selectors to recall the extra skilled Jess Jonassen.
The transfer seemed to have backfired when she was whacked for 18 from her first two overs, however the veteran stood tall when it mattered most, conceding simply 4 runs and taking a wicket within the penultimate over to depart India needing 16 off six deliveries.
Ash Gardner held her nerve with the ball, and the outcome means Australia is thru to a seventh-straight T20 World Cup last the place they’ll face both England or match hosts South Africa.
Initially printed as ‘My average heart rate was probably 190’: Australia survive’s epic contest to reach World Cup final
