Australia clinch thriller to make seventh straight ultimate

Australia 172 for 4 (Mooney 54, Lanning 49*, Pandey 2-32) beat India 167 for 8 (Harmanpreet 52, Rodrigues 43, Brown 2-18) by 5 runs

Shafali Verma fumbles, then flounders, then lastly holds on

Radha ought to have had one other in her subsequent over when Mooney lofted a drive to Shafali at long-on. The ball got here to her at waist top and may have been simply taken however she let it slip by means of her palms and bounce over the boundary. Mooney went on to hit three extra fours earlier than making an attempt to chop a Shikha Pandey ball that was too near her physique and located Shafali once more. She was stationed at level and made no mistake this time for the easy catch. She was clearly relieved and celebrated by banging the ball into the turf. Mooney was dismissed on 54, which meant Shafali’s miss value India 22 runs.

Ashleigh Gardner’s late assault

Mayhem within the center

India’s chase began within the worst attainable manner when Shafali was given out lbw as she missed a flick off Megan Schutt. She was hit above the knee roll and reviewed, with each top and the prospect of the ball lacking leg stump on the playing cards, however was confirmed out on umpire’s name. Five balls later, a Gardner arm ball trapped Smriti Mandhana in her crease as she tried to defend and Australia reviewed on suspicion of pad first. They have been proper and India had misplaced their openers.

But the worst got here within the over after that when Yastika Bhatia, included within the facet after final enjoying in India’s event opener, flicked Darcie Brown to Grace Harris at quick midwicket and set off for a run despite the fact that Rodrigues did not transfer. By the time Bhatia turned to get again, Harris’ throw had already reached Healy, who had the time to run in and break the stumps. India have been 28 for 3 within the fourth over.

Rodrigues rides the wave and Harmanpreet falls quick

Rodrigues and Harmanpreet weren’t rattled by the early wickets and took cost of the innings for the subsequent 6.4 overs. Harmanpreet confirmed few indicators of being below the climate and Rodrigues displayed the boldness she confirmed in opposition to Pakistan. Harmanpreet struck India’s first six with a powerful swing over long-on and Rodrigues turned it on with two attractive lofted off drives off Georgia Wareham. India have been 93 for 3 after 10 overs, with the required run price at eight an over and the pair have been going easily.

Rodrigues began the second half of the innings with one other basic drive after which tried to get cute in opposition to a Brown quick ball. She formed as much as ramp it over Healy’s head however obtained a skinny edge and was caught behind to depart her captain to finish the chase. Harmanpreet obtained to her fifty off 32 balls and took India to inside 40 runs of victory earlier than she was run-out for the primary time in practically 5 years in T20Is, and India’s decrease order could not take them over the road.