Providence (Guyana): Anuja Patil (3/15), Deepti Sharma (2/24), Radha Yadav (2/13) and Poonam Yadav (2/28) dished out a splendid bowling performance to help India beat Australia by 49 runs in their final women’s World T20 group encounter here Saturday.
Chasing a victory target of 168 runs in 20 overs, the Australian women were bowled out for 119 runs in 19.4 overs. Ellyse Perry (39 n o) was the top scorer for the Australian side. With both the sides already through to the semis, the England versus West Indies game Sunday will decide the last four fixtures.
Earlier, India opener Smriti Mandhana (83, 55b, 9×4, 3×6) smashed a career-best knock to power India to a competitive 167/8. She also became the second fastest Indian to compete 1000 runs in T20Is after Mithali Raj during her innings.
Mandhana gave India a good start after her fellow opening batsman Taniya Bhatia (two) was dismissed in the second over, being caught by Meg Lanning at midwicket off Ashleigh Gardner (2/25).
Australia pegged back in the seventh over when Delissa Kimmince (2/42) dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues (six) – the most consistent batswoman in the Indian line-up. However, the dismissal didn’t had any effect on the Indians as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (43, 27b, 3×4, 3×6) too joined in charging down the pitch and smashed Molineux over midwicket for her first six. The duo added 68 runs for the third wicket partnership.
The Indian skipper continued to find boundaries, making life difficult for the Australian bowlers. However an attempt to go for another big shot proved fatal as she was caught by Rachael Haynes to leave India at 117/3 in 13.3 overs.
India, however, lost a bit of ground in the end following the quick wickets of Veda Krishnamurthy and Dayalan Hemalatha within a space of four balls. Mandhana was finally dismissed when she tried to go for a six off the bowling of Megan Schutt (1/30) in the 18th over.
Brief scores: India 167/8 (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 43; Ellyse Perry 3/16, Ashleigh Gardner 2/25) beat Australia 119 (Ellyse Perry 39 n o, Anuja Patil 3/15) by 49 runs.
