India’s chances of making the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 took a hit after suffering a nine-run loss to six-time champions Australia at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

This was India’s final game of Group A. India beat Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their group and lost to New Zealand and Australia. The result of the group’s last match on Monday between Pakistan and New Zealand will determine if India qualify for the last four.

A win for New Zealand will end India’s campaign while a narrow victory for Pakistan will allow India to keep their position in the top two of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 points table as India’s Net Run Rate is better than New Zealand and Pakistan.

However, if Pakistan beat New Zealand by 53 or more runs after scoring 150, they will qualify for the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals. Only the top two teams will make it to the knockouts. Unbeaten Australia have confirmed their place in the last four as Group A winners.

Electing to bat first, Australia were pegged back early by Indian pacer Renuka Singh, who picked up Beth Mooney (2) and Georgia Wareham (0) on back-to-back deliveries to reduce the defending champions to 17/2 in the third over.

A 62-run stand for the third wicket in 54 balls between Grace Harris (40 off 41) and stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath (32 off 26) helped Australia regain the momentum.

Desperate to break the partnerships, Indian cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur turned to left-arm spinner Radha Yadav for the first time in this T20 World Cup. The move paid off with Radha Yadav getting Tahlia McGrath stumped. Deepti Sharma then dismissed Harris in the 14th over.

Australia were 95/4 with six overs to go. Ellyse Perry’s 32 off 23 and crucial cameos from Phoebe Litchfield (15* off 9) and Annabel Sutherland (10 off 6), who struck a six on the last ball, took Australia past 150.

In response, India started well with 25/0 in three overs. Shafali Verma (20 off 13) played the role of the aggressor but was caught in the deep in the fourth over.

Shafali’s opening partner Smriti Mandhana (6 off 12) could not get going and was sent back by Sophie Molineux in the sixth over.

Jemimah Rodrigues looked good for her 16 off 12 but a fine catch in the deep from Ashleigh Gardner reduced India to 47/3.

Australia remained disciplined in their bowling attack. Despite Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma putting on a decent 63-run stand in 55 balls, the required run rate kept getting out of India’s reach.

Deepti Sharma was out in the 16th over with India needing 42 off 25 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur, who took 26 balls to reach 20 runs, put the foot on the gas to keep India in the hunt till the final over.

Kaur led India’s fightback by scoring 12 and 14 runs, respectively, in the 18th and the 19th over. However, Australia kept India’s chase under check with regular wickets at the other end. Harmanpreet Kaur ended the innings unbeaten on 54 off 47 balls. India needed 14 off 6 balls but the Indian captain faced just two balls in the final over.

IND-W vs AUS-W Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 brief scores: Australia 151/8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 40, Renuka Singh 2/24) beat India 142/9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54*, Annabel Sutherland 2/22) by 9 runs.