SHARJAH: Holders Australia overcame the absence of skipper Alyssa Healy to edge India in a tense nine-run win on Sunday that locked up a semi-final spot in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Tahila McGrath led six-time winners Australia in Sharjah after Healy dropped out with a foot injury suffered batting in a victory over Pakistan on Friday.

Healy’s replacement Grace Harris top-scored with 40 and McGrath hit 32 as Aus­tralia posted 151-8 after opting to bat first.

In reply, India finished on 142-9 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hitting an unbeaten 54 as she put on a fourth-wicket stand of 63 with Deepti Sharma, who made 29, and took the fight to the final over.

India needed 14 off the last six balls, but lost four wickets as Australian bowler Annabel Sutherland gave away four runs.

The victory extended Australia’s winning streak to 15 in the tournament.

They officially qualified for their ninth straight semi-final of the tournament when India were 74-3 in 10.4 overs of their chase.

India need arch-rivals Pakistan to win their last match against New Zealand.

If New Zealand win, they will take second place in Group ‘A’ and reach the semis. A Pakistan win would leave them, India and the Kiwis all on four points and net run-rate would decide who advances.

Medium-pace bowler Renuka Singh rocked Australia early with two wickets on succesive balls to send back Beth Mooney, for two, and Georgia Wareham, for a duck.

Harris steadied the innings in a 62-run stand with McGrath, who led from the front with a 26-ball 32 including four fours.

Ellyse Perry smashed 32 off 23 deliveries to drive the innings. She put on a brisk stand of 33 for the sixth wicket with Phoebe Litchfield, who hit an unbeaten 15 and finished the innings with a six.

Off-spinner Deepti took two wickets, including Harris and Perry, and nearly had Litchfield lbw.

The left-handed Litchfield went for a switch hit and the ball hit her pads from outside the leg-stump for a southpaw, but India protested the call to be considered for a right-hander after the change of stance.

The batter was walking off but came back smiling after the third official ruled her not out.

Australia fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck was earlier ruled out of the rest of the tournament after she dislocated her shoulder against Pakistan.

Earlier on Sunday, openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on an unbeaten century partnership as England hammered debutants Scotland by 10 wickets in Sharjah.

England restricted Scotland to 109-6 in 20 overs after left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone returned figures of 2-13 in a disciplined bowling attack in Sharjah.

England romped home with 10 overs to spare as Bouchier hit 62 off 34 balls, earning herself player-of-the-match honours as her team closed in on a semi-final spot.

A third successive win sent England top of Group ‘B’ ahead of South Africa, who have three wins out of four, and the West Indies. England face the West Indies on Tuesday in Dubai to decide the two semi-finalists from the group.

“Just try and win, exactly the same way we have approached [the tournament so far],” skipper Heather Knight said of their last group game against the West Indies.

“You want to keep winning, keep that momentum and we want to go again, get some momentum and make it to the semis.”

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024