Australia’s Ellyse Perry in action during the Women’s T20 World Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and South Africa at Lord’s Cricket Ground, in London, Sunday, June 28, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP
Australia chased down India’s 170 for four with six wickets and six deliveries to spare. The South Africans, who predictably defeated Bangladesh by four wickets, joined Australia in the last four. England and West Indies made the grade from the other group. When the Aussies began the chase, Renuka Singh brought joy to her team and a highly partisan crowd. She had Georgia Voll lbw off the second ball, which jagged back in at good pace.
Phoebe Litchfield, returning from injury, and Beth Mooney put the chase on track with a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, but when they both departed, India’s hopes soared. At 68 for three, Australia had plenty to do. But, Perry (56, 38b, 8×4) and Gardner (53 n.o., 29b, 3×4, 3×6) stayed calm and pushed their side confidently towards the target.
It was a pity that Harmanpreet’s stunning knock, when India needed it desperately, ended in a losing cause. But for the skipper’s 27-ball 56 (6×4, 3×6), India would have struggled to post a meaningful total against a line-up that bats deep.
The Women in Blue, choosing to bat, were struggling to force the pace. Smriti Mandhana (38, 37b, 6×4) and Shafali Verma (34, 26b, 3×4, 2×6) gave another fine start, but their 66-run stand off 55 balls wasn’t brisk enough.
Shafali looked more threatening of the two until she tried to make room against the Australian captain Sophie Molineux, lost balance and was castled.
Smriti was tragically run out after Jemimah Rodrigues (34, 28b, 1×4, 1×6) possibly didn’t hear the call for a quick run. Jemimah and Harmanpreet put on 64 for the third wicket before the former was retired out to bring in India’s designated finisher Richa Ghosh. But, on this day, the captain took over that role.
Harmanpreet swung her bat to maximum effect. She hit her counterpart for three sixes in the final over, which went for 23 runs.
But, Perry and Gardner put the smile back on their captain’s face.
Published – June 28, 2026 10:45 pm IST
