Harmanpreet Kaur’s superb 54* saw India go agonisingly close to a tournament-saving win over defending champions Australia, with Kaur’s side sliding to a nine-run defeat and leave them needing a big helping hand from neighbours Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals.
Kaur had rebuilt for India as they looked to chase down 152 to win, and accelerated to her half-century to set up a final over where 14 runs were required.
But four wickets fell in Annabel Sutherland’s final over, including two run outs, as India and Kaur fell short of the winning post.
WATCH: Sutherland seals Australia win | WT20WC 2024
Earlier, Renuka Singh (2/24) and Deepti Sharma (2/28) starred in a strong bowling showing from India, but the depth of Australia’s batting talent nevertheless steered them to an impressive 151/8 from their 20 overs.
Grace Harris, coming into the team in place of the injured captain Alyssa Healy, top-scored with 40 (41 balls), while there were valuable contributions throughout the middle and lower order, with stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath (32) and Ellyse Perry (32) the biggest contributors.
The result means that India can only finish in the top two in Group A if Pakistan beat New Zealand on Monday by a narrow-enough margin not to move into second themselves on NRR. A win for the White Ferns in that game will consign India to a group-stage exit.
Australia are the first team to seal a place in the semi-finals, having won all four of their group matches.
India were pegged back after a decent start with the bat as Shafali Verma got her team off to a flier with a flurry in the powerplay. But her promising knock of 20 (from 13 balls) came to an abrupt end when she was caught off Ash Gardner.
WATCH: Shafali Verma opens arms against Schutt | WT20WC 2024
And fellow opener Smriti Mandhana also fell in the powerplay, trapped lbw by Sophie Molineux to end a patient contribution of 6 (12).
India closed the powerplay with the score on 41/2, with Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur out in the middle.
But Rodrigues soon joined the openers back in the dugout, caught for 16 (12), and India needed a big second half of the innings with the score at 67/3 at drinks.
WATCH: Rodrigues cameo ends with brilliant Gardner catch | WT20WC 2024
The run rate kept on rising, but Deepti Sharma and Kaur ensured that the game went long.
When Molineux returned to remove Deepti for 29 from 25, it looked like the chance of an Indian win was gone.
But captain Kaur had other ideas, reaching her half-century and setting up a dramatic final over with 14 runs required to snatch victory.
WATCH: A thrilling finale to an exciting India-Australia encounter | WT20WC 2024
A miscued shot from the India skipper off the first ball of the over saw her run a single and share the responsibilities with her teammates.
But that gamble did not pay off as India lost four wickets in a dramatic death-bowling effort from Sutherland.
Pooja Vastrakar was cleaned up by a full delivery, with new better Arundhati Reddy run out looking to get Kaur back on strike.
Shreyanka Patil was run out as the batting pair tried to steal an extra single off a wide, and the match was finished up when Radha Yadav was trapped lbw first ball off the fifth legal delivery of the over.
Kaur finished stranded on 54* from 47 balls, and hung her head in disappointment after ultimately failing to pull off a Sharjah miracle.
Earlier, Australia’s stand-in captain McGrath won the toss and decided to bat first against India at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
But it was India who enjoyed the better of the opening stages, as Renuka Singh struck twice in two balls to remove Beth Mooney (2) and Georgia Wareham (0) to leave Australia in need of a rebuild.
It could have been an even better start for India, with new opener Grace Harris appearing to edge a flick down the leg side, but Richa Ghosh not able to hold on as she moved across.
WATCH: Renuka's near hat-trick rattles Australia top-order | WT20WC 2024
But the rebuild did come, as Australia showcased their impressive batting depth.
The defending champions reached 37/2 at the end of the powerplay, with Harris and McGrath leading the recovery. And the partnership accelerated towards the midway point of the innings to leave Australia with a solid platform at 65/2.
WATCH: Grace Harris plays a brilliant hand with the willow | WT20WC 2024
Grace Harris plays a brilliant hand with the willow | WT20WC 2024
A fine stumping by Ghosh off Yadav accounted for the dangerous McGrath (32 from 26), and Harris, up to a new role as opener, had played the longest innings in her storied T20I career when she eventually departed for 40 from 41, dismissed by Sharma.
But Australia’s long and talented batting line-up meant the quality kept on coming.
WATCH: Spinners strike back for India in the middle overs | WT20WC 2024
Ellyse Perry kept up the momentum with a fine 32 from 23 balls, while Ashleigh Gardner contributed a run-a-ball six before the scoring rate exploded at the back end.
The talented all-rounder Annabel Sutherland showed her quality with 10 from just 6 balls before being cleaned up by Shreyanka Patil in the final over, with Sophie Molineux (0) run out off the very next ball.
WATCH: Exciting final over yields back-to-back wickets | WT20WC 2024
Exciting final over yields back-to-back wickets | WT20WC 2024
Yet Phoebe Litchfield, who India thought they had dismissed when she reviewed an lbw off a reverse sweep, added a final flourish to boost the score to 151/8. Litchfield ended unbeaten on 15 from 9 balls, finishing with a six.
Statements were made by both camps about injuries prior to the start of the match.
Australia made two enforced changes to their team, with Harris and Darcie Brown replacing the injured pair of Alyssa Healy and Tayla Vlaeminck.
India also made two switches to their playing XI as Pooja Vastrakar returned at the expense of Sajeevan Sajana and Radha Yadav was a late replacement for Asha Sobhana.
Alyssa Healy concern for Australia in Sharjah 😯#INDvAUS #T20WorldCuphttps://t.co/5vhOh5VZVI
A statement released by India revealed that the second change occurred just prior to the game, with the ICC Match Referee and Australia’s captain both agreeing to the switch.
“Ms Asha Sobhana is unable to participate in the today’s game against Australia after she suffered a knee injury during the warm-up on the sidelines of toss,” the media release said.
“Radha Yadav will replace Asha in the Playing XI. The ICC Match Referee requested the Australian captain who agreed to the request for a replacement in India’s Playing XI.
"The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Asha’s progress.”
Australia confirmed that Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament and captain Healy arrived in Sharjah on crutches ahead of the match.
Australia released a statement prior to the toss, stating that Healy could yet play a part in the tournament should Australia qualify for the knockout stages, with McGrath confirmed as captain in her absence.
"Tayla Vlaeminck dislocated her right shoulder during Friday night’s match," the media release said. "She will miss the remainder of the tournament, with all-rounder Heather Graham to come into the squad as a replacement player for Vlaeminck.
"Alyssa Healy is unavailable for tonight’s game after suffering a foot injury on Friday night. She will continue to be assessed over the coming days and should Australia qualify for the semi finals, her availability will be determined in due course.
"Tahlia McGrath will captain Australia in its final pool match against India this evening, with Ellyse Perry confirmed as vice-captain."
India: 1 Shafali Verma, 2 Smriti Mandhana, 3 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 4 Jemimah Rodriguez, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Pooja Vastrakar, 8 Arundhati Reddy, 9 Shreyanka Patil, 10 Radha Yadav, 11 Renuka Singh
Australia: 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Grace Harris , 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Ashleigh Gardner, 5 Phoebe Litchfield, 6 Tahlia McGrath (capt), 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Annabel Sutherland, 9 Sophie Molineux, 10 Megan Schutt, 11 Darcie Brown
All matches at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 will be held in the two host cities of Dubai and Sharjah.
Fans can purchase tickets online or directly at the stadiums, for more information on where to buy click here.
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