Australia Women beat India Women by nine runs in the Women T20 World Cup in Sharjah UAE on Sunday (Oct 13) and booked a place in the semis

Women's T20 World Cup India barely hanging in semi-final race as Australia book place with thrilling

Australia Women beat India Women by nine runs in the Women's T20 World Cup in Sharjah, UAE on Sunday (Oct 13) and booked a place in the Semis.

Chasing a modest 152, India could manage only 142/9 in 20 overs despite Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scoring an unbeaten 54.

In the last over, India needed only 14 runs but managed just four, with Kaur being stuck at the non-striker end for most deliveries as India lost four wickets, including two run-outs.

India started the chase decently as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma added 26 runs for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed in the fourth over.

Mandhana also departed in the last over of the powerplay as India finished the first six overs at 41/2.

Jemimah Rodrigues had another awful outing as India lost third wicket just after the powerplay and before 50 runs on the board.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then added 63 runs for the fifth wicket with Deepti before Sophie Molineux broke that partnership in the 16th over.

With 24 balls left, India needed 41 runs to win, and Kaur was still on crease.

While Kaur managed to score her fifty, she failed to get support from the other end.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in Sharjah, UAE.

They started cautiously but could score only 17 runs before Renuka Singh struck twice in two balls in the third over. 

With Beth Mooney and Georgia Wareham both back, skipper Tahlia McGrath joined Grace Harris as Australia finished the powerplay at 37/2.

The duo added 82 runs for the third wicket before Radha Yadav sent back McGrath (32) in the 12th over.

Harris departed soon after in the 14th over after scoring 40 and Ashleigh Garden as well, with Australia being 101/5 and five overs till remaining.

Ellyse Perry then took on scoring as she hit 32 off 23 balls before being dismissed in the penultimate over.

Little cameos from Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland took Australia past 150 as they finished at 151/8 in 20 overs.

For India, Renuka and Deepti took two wickets each while Shreyanka Patil, Pooka Vastrakar and Radha chipped in with one each.