The Indian team had to be content with the silver medal.
Beth Mooney’s half-century helped Australia to 161 for eight despite India’s scintillating fielding. In reply, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 65 runs in 43 balls but the lower order batsmen could not take the team to victory. Indian team got out for 152 runs in 19.3 overs.
Australia took the last five wickets within 13 runs. Spinner Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets for 16 runs.
Jemima Rodriguez scored 33 off 33 balls for India while Shefali Verma (11) and Deepti Sharma (13) were the other batsmen to reach double digits.
Earlier in the packed stadium, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first.
Indian pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, who was performing brilliantly in the tournament, gave India their first breakthrough by getting the dangerous Alyssa Healy out early leg before. The umpire ruled in favor of the bowler on DRS.
Mooney (61 off 41 balls) and captain Meg Lanning (36 off 26 balls) then shared a 78-run partnership. Lanning hit Renuka for the first six of the match in mid-off.
The Indian fielders, who were generally criticized, put up a stellar performance. First Lanning was run out and then Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav took excellent catches.
Mooney was sent off by Deepti with a one-handed catch while Radha dived to backward point with a catch of Tahlia McGrath. McGrath was playing this match despite being found to be Corona positive.
Australia at one point seemed to be moving towards 180 runs but India made a good comeback in the last five overs, picking up five wickets for 35 runs.
Renuka took two wickets for 25 runs in four overs while Sneh Rana took two wickets but gave away 38 runs in four overs.
Mona
Mona
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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