The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 witnessed a nail-biting encounter between India Women and Australia Women on October 13, 2024. Australia Women emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 9 runs, with stellar performances from Sophie Molineux, who was named Player of the Match for her all-around contribution.
Australia Sets a Target of 151
Australia Women won the toss and opted to bat first at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. They posted a competitive total of 151/8 in their 20 overs, thanks to steady contributions from key batters. Grace Harris played a composed knock of 40 from 41 deliveries, supported by skipper Tahlia McGrath, who scored a brisk 32 off 26 balls. Ellyse Perry chipped in with a crucial 32 off 23 deliveries, hitting two boundaries and a six to boost Australia’s total.
India’s bowlers had their moments, with Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma taking two wickets each. However, the Australians’ ability to rotate the strike and capitalize on key moments helped them reach a challenging score. India’s bowling attack showed discipline, with economical spells from Pooja Vastrakar (3-0-22-1) and Deepti Sharma (4-0-28-2).
India’s Chase Falters Despite Harmanpreet’s Efforts
Chasing 152 to win, India Women faced early setbacks. Openers Shafali Verma (20 off 13) and Smriti Mandhana (6 off 12) couldn’t provide the explosive start India needed. Australia’s bowlers, particularly Sophie Molineux (4-0-32-2) and Annabel Sutherland (4-0-22-2), restricted India’s scoring opportunities, making every run hard-earned.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur stood firm for India with an unbeaten 54 from 47 balls, showcasing her class under pressure. Jemimah Rodrigues supported her captain with a quickfire 16-ball 12, but their efforts were in vain as Australia’s bowlers kept things tight in the final overs. India eventually finished at 142/9 after their allotted 20 overs, falling just 9 runs short of the target.
Sophie Molineux’s Game-Changing Performance
Sophie Molineux played a pivotal role in Australia’s win, taking 2 wickets for 32 runs in her 4 overs, including the crucial dismissal of Smriti Mandhana. She also contributed in the field and bowled with precision, maintaining pressure on India’s batters throughout the innings. Her all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
Key Moments and Turning Points
- Grace Harris’ Knock: Harris’ 40 runs provided Australia with a solid foundation at the top of the order, allowing the middle-order to play freely.
- Harmanpreet’s Fight: India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur held the innings together with her 54*, but wickets falling at regular intervals made it difficult for her to steer the chase.
- Sophie Molineux’s Bowling: Molineux’s consistent line and length, along with her crucial wickets, made the difference in defending the total.
- Australia’s Bowling Attack: The disciplined bowling from Australia’s spinners and pacers stifled India’s chase, especially in the middle overs, where they were unable to build partnerships.
Australia’s Bowling Excellence
Australia’s bowling attack was the star of the match, with Megan Schutt (4-0-25-1) and Ash Gardner (4-0-32-1) providing excellent support to Molineux and Sutherland. They managed to keep the Indian batters under pressure, ensuring that boundaries were hard to come by.
India’s fall of wickets was a constant theme, with none of the partnerships managing to flourish. Australia’s fielding was sharp, with two run-outs adding to India’s woes.
Conclusion
This thrilling contest at Sharjah exemplified the fierce competition in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Australia’s balanced performance with both bat and ball helped them edge past a determined Indian side. Despite Harmanpreet Kaur’s valiant efforts, Australia Women’s bowling attack proved too formidable for India to overcome.
