India vs Australia, Women's T20 World Cup, Highlights: Australia win by 9 runs, leaving India in trouble

So it all comes down to the final two matches to decide three teams in the semifinal spots. Australia are confirmed but they are the only team. India will hope for a favour from Pakistan with a win over New Zealand, while in the other group, it is still not clear which two amongst England, West Indies and South Africa could go through. So make sure you don't miss out on either of those blockbusters with New Zealand Women set to take on Pakistan Women on Monday, 14th October, 2024 followed by a spicy England-West Indies encounter on Tuesday, both in Dubai. The first ball is set to be bowled at 2 pm GMT for both games, but our buildup will begin much sooner. In the meanwhile, you can also catch a glimpse of the scorecards from other matches by visiting their matchcentres. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Australian captain, TAHLIA MCGRATH, is pleased with the win and credits the entire team for getting around and supporting her in tight situations. Calls the pitch a tricky one with the slower balls gripping the surface and hard to score off. Details that understanding from the first innings helped them while bowling. On batting superbly in the final 5 overs, McGrath puts it to experience with batters knowing their role pretty well. On holding their nerves with the ball when India were going well, Tahlia says that she always turns to Ellyse Perry in tense situations and her experience and advice always bail the team out. On being asked whom would they prefer in the semifinal, TM beats around the bush, saying that they would rather focus on their own preparations.

Indian skipper, HARMANPREET KAUR, says that Australia's allrounders were the difference between the two sides. Lauds them for changing their plans based on the surface and not having a fixed batting lineup or bowling attack. But cites the major difference was the Aussie fielding, as they did not let India get easy runs. On Asha Sobhana's injury after the toss and a forced change to bring in Radha Yadav, Kaur says that is something which is not in anyone's control and that is why, teams travel with 13-14 players always ready. Calls Radha a very good character who is always giving you a breakthrough when needed. On batting, Harman says that they assessed the conditions pretty well but during her partnership with Deepti Sharma, the pair could not capitalize on the loose balls bowled by Australia. On what looks like an eternal wait to know whether India can qualify for the semis or not, the skipper says that it is no longer in India's hands now and adds that it would be great if they get another game but bravely adds that may the better team go through.

SOPHIE MOLINEUX HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for her 2/32. Molineux says that it was a really good game of cricket that went down to the wire. Is glad that Australia held their nerve towards the end. On the message in the field, especially with Alyssa Healy missing, Sophie says that the message was just to be calm and stick to the basics. Smiles on being asked about the one-sided crowd support towards India, but she does not mind it, she says and thanks the people for coming in to watch. Is happy to have qualified but hopes to take the momentum from this game into the semifinal.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, Australia huffed and puffed their way to 151/8. They were put under pressure throughout the innings but they managed to respond by fighting hard. Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry played crucial knocks, stringing useful partnerships, ensuring that there was not a massive collapse. And one believes that's where the two teams differed. Australia had batters who just kept coming and coming and coming. They could bat all the way upto number 9, till Sophie Molineux, who has opened in the Women's Big Bash! But as far as India were concerned, once Pooja Vastrakar fell, it had to be a one-player show and Australia isolated her. Tough day for Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma who finished with 2 wickets apiece and bowled really well, but could not get the win. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Unlike other matches, Australia Women could not quite pick up wickets with consistency. They were tested but they responded well. They quickly adjusted their field and their lines and lengths to cut off the boundaries and draw the Indians into mistakes. In between, the spinners were put under pressure, but the Aussies made sure that apart from the 18th and 19th overs, never did 2 overs go for 10 runs or more in succession. Sophie Molineux started the pressure rut, finishing with 2/32 but it was a coming of age for Annabel Sutherland who was simply sensational, especially in that final over, with figures of 2/22.

India started the run chase quite confidently, with Shafali Verma getting on to a quick start. But then Australia struck back and from 26/0, India slipped to 47/3. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma then got a partnership brewing but Australia choked them, allowing them singles but not giving away too many boundaries. Then, once the boundaries started to appear, Deepti Sharma was dismissed and Australia got their A-game on. They isolated the Indian skipper and kept picking up wickets at the other end and eventually, came out triumphant. Unfortunate for Harmanpreet to make 54 unbeaten but not take her team through, but the good thing is that, because India kept the defeat margin to single digits, their net run rate is still above that of New Zealand's.

The Indians will be distraught and for multiple reasons. First and foremost, they have been consigned to defeat in a very important game and now they have to wait for another 24 hours to know whether they are going to be playing in this tournament in the coming week. If a defeat is bad, prolonged wait is even worse. Second, the Indians were up and about for this contest and did not give Australia an inch. They fought tooth and nail and eventually, one might say that it was the depth of the Aussie unit with both bat and ball that was the difference in the end.

Yet another Australia-India match turns out to be a thrilling encounter. Till that last over, we could not say who was on top and Annabel Sutherland bowled a stunning final over. This victory marks the 15th consecutive time that Australia Women have been unbeaten in this format but above all, India Women will now hope that Pakistan Women do a favour on them come Monday.

19.6: Annabel Sutherland to Renuka Singh Thakur, AUSTRALIA WIN AND THIS IS THE 15TH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS IN THE WORLD CUPS! AN EXTRAORDINARY STREAK THIS! SHARJAH HAS BEEN SILENCED! Coming to the delivery, this is a length ball around middle and leg, Renuka heaves it along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single. And eventually, it all came down to the last delivery. Very fair to say, that the last-ball six from Phoebe Litchfield in the first innings, ultimately proved to be the difference in the end!

Renuka Singh Thakur is the only batter left.

19.5: Annabel Sutherland to Radha Yadav, OUT! LBW! A huge appeal for LBW and up goes the finger! The decision is challenged by Radha Yadav after consulting from her skipper, but fairly this one looks pretty straight to the naked eye. Annabel Sutherland sticks to the fuller length, at the stumps, Radha clears her front leg, and wildly swings at it, gets beaten comprehensively on the inside edge and is trapped on the front pad. UltraEdge shows no bat and the Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. A nervy final over from Annabel Sutherland, executed just about perfectly!

Radha Yadav walks in at number 10, replacing Shreyanka Patil.

19.5: Annabel Sutherland to Shreyanka Patil, OUT! WIDE AND A RUN OUT! Full in length, but drifting down leg, slower ball, Patil swings her bat and misses, Mooney behind the stumps gathers the ball well. Kaur wants to steal a bye, but Shreyanka is ball-watching and does not look at her partner who is already more than halfway up for a single. Harmanpreet frustratingly walks back to the non-striker's end with a disgruntled look on her face. Mooney in the meantime, runs forward to the stumps and realizes that Shreyanka's back leg is outside the popping crease. She dislodges the bail in a flash. Now, the question is whether Patil had some part of her boot behind the line. She tries to drag her feet behind the line but it gets stuck in the pitch. After several checks, the TV Umpire is assured that there's nothing behind the line. OUT IT IS! 

It is a wide but do we have a run out here? The flick shot was missed by the batter and Shreyanka was perhaps looking for the run off the bye. Out of nowhere, Beth Mooney came running down to dislodge the bails. Shreyanka got back, but replays seem to show that her foot was on the line. The third umpire wants to check multiple angles. Time for the back camera now. Does seem like the foot is on the line. A further zoom in is asked now. From where we can see, the foot has not moved an inch and it still is on the line. But the third umpire is still not convinced. She is repeatedly asking for different angles and further saying, 'It is not helping me'. Eventually, she concludes that the foot is on the line and it will be a wicket.

19.4: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Can't get it through, this is excellent bowling display by Sutherland! Almost a yorker on off, Harmanpreet Kaur drills it down to wide of mid off for a quick single. No room for the double there as the fielder is very quick to scoot on the ball. 12 from 2 now.

Shreyanka Patil walks in at number 9, replacing Arundhati Reddy.

19.3: Annabel Sutherland to Arundhati Reddy, OUT! It is a run out but India will not mind. The skipper is back on strike. Almost a yorker, outside off, Arundhati Reddy gets underneath the ball and aims to go for a cover drive. The ball hits the toe end of the bat and lobs gently to mid off. Does not carry but because Reddy is on a knee, she takes some time to set off for the single. Harmanpreet has no doubts and has already set off. Phoebe Litchfield throws it to the bowler who does the rest.

Should be Arundhati Reddy now.

19.2: Annabel Sutherland to Pooja Vastrakar, OUT! BOWLED! Not the best of balls but Sutherland will take it. A high full toss, at the stumps, Pooja Vastrakar backs away and slashes hard, but misses. The ball goes beneath the bat and hits the stumps. A quickfire stand of 28 in 18 balls has been broken as Vastrakar departs for 9 (6). India Women are 139/6 and need another 13 from 4 balls.

19.1: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Very full, around off, Harmanpreet Kaur drills it to long on for a single. 13 needed from 5 balls now.

Final over. Who bowls it? Wareham or Sutherland? For India, Shreyanka bowled the 20th and conceded 12. Wareham conceded 9 in her last. It will be Annabel Sutherland. 3-0-18-0. Also, the fielding penalty has been instituted. Australia can have only 4 outside the circle.

18.6: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Seeing Harmapreet shuffling outside off, Sophie Molineux cunningly flattens the trajectory and fires in full and just near the boot of the batter. Harmanpreet Kaur gets a thick inside edge to her boot as the ball rolls to the off side. A quick single taken. 14 required off 6 balls now. This is going all the way down to the wire!

A bit of a breather taken. Not sure why. Both the batters have paused the game slightly and are taking a drink.

18.5: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, FIFTY FOR HARMANPREET KAUR! Sophie Molineux now bowls it full and outside off, Kaur crouches a bit, and hits it over the covers. The fielder in the deep mops it up well and the batters scrape through for a couple. Harmanpreet Kaur hares back for the second and she is gasping for breath here.

18.4: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Nicely adjusted by Harmanpreet! Sophie Molineux fires it flat and wide of off, just near the tramline, Harmanpreet Kaur first looks to slog it away to the leg side but adjusts well to slice it over the infield over short third for a boundary.

18.3: Sophie Molineux to Pooja Vastrakar, Slower through the air, outside off, fractionally shorter than full, Pooja goes for the big hoick and mistimes it. Does not carry to deep mid-wicket. A single taken.

18.2: Sophie Molineux to Pooja Vastrakar, FOUR! BEAUTY! Insult to injury now. Flighted, outside off, Vastrakar gives herself room again on the leg side and drives it beautifully through the covers.

18.1: Sophie Molineux to Pooja Vastrakar, MISFIELD! Are the wheels coming off for the Aussies? Very full, around middle, Pooja Vastrakar gives herself room to the leg side and drives it straight to point. The fielder takes her eyes off the ball and what should have been a single, becomes a couple.

17.6: Ash Gardner to Pooja Vastrakar, 1 from the previous and 12 from this over! This is full and on the stumps, Pooja Vastrakar steers it behind square to deep square leg for a single to end the over. 4-0-32-1 for Ash Gardner.

17.5: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss outside off, quicker at almost 102 kph, drilled down to long off by Harmanpreet Kaur for a single.

17.4: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Finds the gap, again! Ash Gardner provides just a little room outside off on a good length, Harmanpreet Kaur hangs back and cuts it past cover for a boundary. 30 required of the last 14 now.

17.3: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! WHAM! Very full, outside off, Kaur gets down and carves it over a leaping Litchfield at cover. Moves to 40 (40).

17.2: Ash Gardner to Pooja Vastrakar, A touch shorter, on middle, Pooja Vastrakar stays back and helps it through mid-wicket for a run.

17.1: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, Very full, around off, Harmanpreet Kaur sweeps it towards wide long on for a single. 39 more needed from 17 balls.

16.6: Megan Schutt to Harmanpreet Kaur, Missed by a margin there! It's getting nervy for India Women at the moment! It looked like Harmanpreet Kaur almost conceded on that run. Fuller and at the stumps, right in the blockhole yet again, Kaur digs it on the surface, and gets an inside edge on her front pad which rolls towards the point region and rushes for a single. Beth Mooney runs towards the ball, picks it up and throws it flat, but has a shy at the non-striker's end. Had it been a direct hit, it was curtains for the Indian skipper. But a sensational over from Megan Schutt. A wicket and just a single. India Women need 40 from 18 now. 

16.5: Megan Schutt to Harmanpreet Kaur, Make that the fifth dot! Fired in full and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur mistimes it to mid off.

16.4: Megan Schutt to Harmanpreet Kaur, Fourth dot in this over so far! Top drawer from Megan Schutt. A well-directed yorker outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur is late to bring her bat down in time to squeeze it out. Phoebe Litchfield does well to block it off behind the wickets.

16.3: Megan Schutt to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Pooja Vastrakar should be in next.

16.2: Megan Schutt to Richa Ghosh, OUT! RUN OUT! Excellent piece of fielding from Australia. Phoebe Litchfield is the fielder. Very full, around off, Ghosh drives it through the covers and sets off for a quick single. But she cannot pierce the gap and it has gone straight to the fielder. They still go through for the single and Litchfield takes aim. Has a shy at the bowler's end and hits the bulls' eye. Richa is nowhere in the frame. She departs for 1 (3) and Australia pick up 2 wickets for 1 run in 4 balls. India need another 41 from 22 balls.

16.1: Megan Schutt to Richa Ghosh, Megan Schutt to bowl out now. Starts with a wide ball, on a length, outside off, pace off, Richa Ghosh throws her bat at it but cannot get it past cover.

15.6: Sophie Molineux to Richa Ghosh, Overpitched and outside off, Richa Ghosh drives it to the left of cover for a quick single. India Women need 41 off 23 balls now. A wicket from the over but 12 runs from it as well. Sophie Molineux has figures of 3-0-18-2 now.

Richa Ghosh is in now, for the finishing duties.

15.5: Sophie Molineux to Deepti Sharma, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN SAFELY! A huge, huge breakthrough for Australia Women! Sophie Molineux sticks to fire in the ball on a fuller length, on a flatter trajectory, around off, Deepti Sharma comes ahead a couple of steps and looks to take on the pace. She aerially lofts the ball but mistimes it badly as her head falls over. Hence, fails to generate the requisite power on the shot. It goes off the toe end of the bat and travels straight to Georgia Wareham at deep mid-wicket. She judges the catch perfectly, balances herself well just before the ropes, and takes a good overhead catch. Sophie Molineux breaks the 63 run-stand between Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur. Deepti Sharma departs for 29 (25) and India Women need another 42 from 25 balls.

15.4: Sophie Molineux to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Now that is a nice shot! Sophie Molineux bowls it flat and quick, on the stumps, on a fullish length, Deepti Sharma gets inside the line of the ball and sweeps it behind the square, over the inner ring for a boundary at widish deep fine.

15.3: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full and straight, Kaur flicks it through square leg for a single.

15.2: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! WHACK! The accelerator has been pressed on. Full, around middle, Harmanpreet Kaur goes leg side of the ball and hits it aerially through the covers. The fielder dives to her right but the ball goes through! These are ominous signs for the Australians. They have seen this before. 47 more needed from 28 balls!

15.1: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Sophie Molineux returns. Starts with a short ball, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur rocks back and lofts it over cover. Two runs taken. 100 UP FOR INDIA WOMEN. 51 more needed from 29 balls.

14.6: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Cheeky! 50-STAND UP IN 49 BALLS! Georgia Wareham provides more air to this one, on the leg stump line, Deepti gets down on one knee, helps it on its way over short fine for a boundary to end the over. India Women need 53 from the last 5 overs remaining.

14.5: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, No damage done, excellent redemption by Georgia Wareham! Tossed up around off, Kaur steps down on track, stays leg side of the ball, and mistimes it down to long on for a single.

14.5: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, WHOA! Above-the-waist-height full toss on leg, Deepti Sharma pulls it somehow to deep square leg for a single. NO BALL! FREE HIT TO FOLLOW!

14.4: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, Very slow, full and around off, Deepti Sharma is months early in the sweep shot. Gets no bat on it, and the ball is deflected off her pads to the keeper.

14.3: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur goes for the big slog sweep. Just about mistimes it and the ball lands just short of the fielder in the deep. A single taken.

14.2: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, Comes down the track, takes it on the full and works it through mid-wicket for a single.

14.1: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, The googly, outside leg, Deepti Sharma goes for the sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.

13.6: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Crucial boundary for India! A short ball, almost a bouncer outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets on top of the bounce and pulls it through mid-wicket. Ellyse Perry puts in a slow chase and dives after the ball is past her.

13.5: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, Landed outside off, Harmanpreet backs away and guides it straight to backward point.

13.4: Ash Gardner to Deepti Sharma, Fourth straight long hop. Around middle, Deepti pulls it to deep mid-wicket for another single.

13.3: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, Another short ball, but this one skids through. Kaur looks to pull but mistimes it to long on for one.

13.2: Ash Gardner to Deepti Sharma, Shorter and slower, on middle, Deepti Sharma goes for the pull but has to wait for an age for the ball to arrive. Somehow, manages to dab it through the leg side for a run.

13.1: Ash Gardner to Harmanpreet Kaur, Ash Gardner returns. Starts the over with a short ball, outside off, and it keeps low. Harmanpreet Kaur goes back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 69 more needed from 41 balls.

12.6: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Around middle, Kaur goes for a big hit but mistimes it towards long on. Does not carry to the fielder. A single taken.

12.5: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, outside off, Harmanpreet backs away to the leg side and drives powerfully through the covers. But Georgia Wareham in that position quickly gets across and puts in a quick save. Excellent fielding.

12.4: Annabel Sutherland to Deepti Sharma, Slower ball, on a length, around middle, Sharma punches it towards point and takes a quick single.

12.3: Annabel Sutherland to Deepti Sharma, Outside off, on a good length, Deepti Sharma looks to run it down to deep third but misses.

12.2: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, A high full toss, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur pulls it through mid-wicket. Nearly finds the boundary but Ellyse Perry races to her right in the deep and somehow manages to half-stop it. Luckily for her, the ball does not roll back into the ropes. Just a single.

12.1: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Outside off, dabbed straight to point.

11.6: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, Quicker leg break on middle, short in length, Kaur goes back to pull but the ball skids onto the bat and she is cramped for room. Mistimes it to long on for one.

11.5: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, Tossed up, outside off, Kaur drives it to the left of the bowler.

11.4: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, Short, outside off, punched straight to point.

11.3: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, A flat ball, pulled through mid-wicket for one.

11.2: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, DROPPED! Should have been taken by Australian standards. Full toss, around leg stump, Harmanpreet Kaur looks to play the slog sweep. She does not quite connect it well and the ball flies towards deep square leg. Darcie Brown comes charging in, gets to the ball and the catch by diving but cannot hang on. A run taken.

11.1: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, Comes down the track and swings it to deep square leg for a single.

It is official. AUSTRALIA HAVE BECOME THE FIRST TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE SEMIFINALS. As per the official statistician, even if they lose this match, their net run rate is so high that they cannot go down to third spot. So it is now between New Zealand and India with a one percent chance for Pakistan.

10.6: Darcie Brown to Harmanpreet Kaur, Around off, punched back to the bowler.

10.5: Darcie Brown to Deepti Sharma, Another short ball, around middle, Deepti pulls it through mid-wicket for one.

10.4: Darcie Brown to Harmanpreet Kaur, Around off, dabbed through point for a run.

10.3: Darcie Brown to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! A boundary after 16 balls! A short ball, around off, Harmanpreet Kaur is prepared for it and pulls it behind square leg. 79 more needed from 57 balls.

10.2: Darcie Brown to Deepti Sharma, A touch short now, around middle, extra pace, Deepti Sharma pulls it calmly through mid-wicket for a run.

10.1: Darcie Brown to Harmanpreet Kaur, On a good length, around middle, Harmanpreet Kaur tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

This is now an official DRINKS BREAK. Nothing much to choose between the two teams and it continues to be a tussle, after 30 overs of competitive cricket. India Women are 67/3 after 10 overs, but at this same stage, Australia Women were 65/2. India are not able to find the boundaries consistently but one good thing they are doing is - not allowing the dots to build up. The batters are keeping the strike ticking over with singles and twos and ensuring that the required rate is not going out of hand. They might have one eye on trying to win this by the 17th or the 18th over and maybe now, one of Kaur or Deepti might go for broke. Australia have been disciplined as usual but even with the pitch playing slow, they are unable to get wickets through their spinners regularly. Darcie Brown to bowl for the first time now.

9.6: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, on middle and leg, chipped down the ground, towards long on for one.

9.5: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Quicker ball, in line of the stumps, Harmanpreet goes back and cuts hard, but finds short third.

9.4: Sophie Molineux to Deepti Sharma, Fuller, on middle and leg, Deepti sweeps it fine for a run.

9.3: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, NEARLY! Once again, Kaur goes for the paddle and Beth Mooney, the keeper, anticipating well, quickly moves to her left. But the ball whizzes past her, to fine leg. Another single.

9.2: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down to play the paddle scoop again. She plays too early, the ball holds up in the surface and comes late. The ball takes the top edge and lobs towards short third. Deepti wants the single but Harman is searching for the ball, hence sends her back. Replay shows that the ball hit the fitness watch worn by Harman on her right hand. She takes it off to check whether it is working and it is.

9.1: Sophie Molineux to Deepti Sharma, A touch short, around middle, going down, Deepti Sharma helps it through square leg for a single.

An unofficial Drinks break. Seems like umpire Sue Redfern called for the Drinks break but then realized that she had called it an over early. Now seeing that, Deepti already called for a change of gloves. There is a lot of sweat. So the other players are also having some drinks.

8.6: Annabel Sutherland to Deepti Sharma, DROPPED! Sophie Molineux this time. Back of the hand slower ball from Sutherland, lands short of a length outside off and kicks off, but slowly. Deepti is already into her attempted punch and can only spoon it off the top edge. The ball flies in the air and Molineux flies too, from point, to her right. Stretches her right hand, takes the catch, but the ball pops out. A run taken.

8.5: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Around off, tucked through square leg for one more.

8.4: Annabel Sutherland to Deepti Sharma, IN THE AIR... JUST WIDE! A length ball, around leg, Sharma works it through mid-wicket, a bit uppishly. Grace Harris dives to her right but the ball gets past her dive, towards long on. Another single.

8.3: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full and wide outside off, once again, Kaur repeats the stroke she played on the first ball of this over. This time though, she has to fetch it a bit, but still gets it away to fine leg, with a paddle. One run taken.

8.2: Annabel Sutherland to Deepti Sharma, Very full, on middle, Deepti Sharma jams it through mid-wicket for a run.

8.1: Annabel Sutherland to Harmanpreet Kaur, Annabel Sutherland is back on. Starts this over with a full ball outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down and gently paddles it towards fine leg for a single.

7.6: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, Risky run but Deepti Sharma is safe in the end. First of all, a risky shot as well. It is a googly from Wareham and Harmanpreet takes it from the off stump, getting the bat down just in time to play the ball towards point. The batters decide to go for the quick single and there is a direct hit at the striker's end. It is referred upstairs and the replay shows that Deepti dived in and when the ball hit the stumps, the bat was well inside the crease. 

Direct hit! Lisa Sthalekar on air feels that Deepti Sharma is safe. Umpire Sue Redfern takes it upstairs, just to be safe. And Deepti is safe as well, as per the replay.

7.6: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, WIDE. Full and down the leg side, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down to sweep but misses.

7.5: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, On middle and leg, Deepti helps it through mid-wicket for a single.

7.4: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Lucky but India will take it. Fractionally short, outside leg, Deepti Sharma goes for the pull but the ball bounces a shade extra, takes the top edge and flies over the keeper. Grace Harris cannot catch up with it from short fine leg.

7.3: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, Slow and full on leg, Deepti Sharma squats and pulls it straight to square leg.

7.2: Georgia Wareham to Harmanpreet Kaur, Nice and full on off, Harmanpreet Kaur works it down to long off for an easy single.

7.1: Georgia Wareham to Deepti Sharma, Full toss on the stumps, Deepti Sharma mistimes the pull towards deep square leg for only a single.

6.6: Megan Schutt to Deepti Sharma, A low full toss on the stumps, Deepti flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single

Who's next? Deepti Sharma it is at number 5.

6.5: Megan Schutt to Jemimah Rodrigues, OUT! IN THE AIR...AND TAKEN! Ash Gardner is not dropping those at all! Australia Women wrestling hard and are right on the top of their opponents at this point. Megan Schutt bangs it into the surface, in the line of the middle stump, it lands, bounces more off the deck and gets big on the batter. Jemimah Rodrigues prepares herself for the pull shot and mistimes it aerially. Doesn't get a proper bat on it and it flies only as far as Ash Gardner at deep mid-wicket. Gardner runs forward and takes a good diving catch to her front. Jemimah Rodrigues is kicking herself and is livid with that shot. India Women are 3 down now! Losing the momentum here.

6.4: Megan Schutt to Harmanpreet Kaur, Pitched full, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur paddles it very fine for a single at deep fine.

6.3: Megan Schutt to Jemimah Rodrigues, Fired in fuller and on middle and leg, Jemimah Rodrigues sits down and accesses the leg side for a single at deep backward square leg.

6.2: Megan Schutt to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! That's nicely played by Jemimah Rodrigues! Megan bangs a shorter one, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues rises up with the bounce and pulls it over mid-wicket, gets a boundary at the vacant deep mid-wicket region.

6.1: Megan Schutt to Jemimah Rodrigues, Fuller and outside off, Jemimah shuffles and goes for the paddle but misses. Wears it on the front pad.

5.6: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Sophie Molineux darts it in on a length, in front of the sticks, blocked off somehow by Harmanpreet Kaur. India Women, after end of the Powerplay, are 41/2. Need 111 more from 84 balls remaining.

5.5: Sophie Molineux to Jemimah Rodrigues, This is an arm ball, on the middle, Jemimah Rodrigues squats at it and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball lands safe on the bounce and is picked up by the deep mid-wicket fielder. A single taken.

5.4: Sophie Molineux to Jemimah Rodrigues, OOOHHH! A lot of grip there! Length on the stumps, with some turn away from the batter, Jemimah gets squared up as she fends it onto the pitch.

5.3: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Quick run there! Length, on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur works it to the leg side and hares to the other end.

5.2: Sophie Molineux to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full outside off, Kaur pushes it to covers.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian skipper is in at number 4.

5.1: Sophie Molineux to Smriti Mandhana, A huge appeal for LBW but not given as Out. Australia Women go upstairs instantly to challenge the on-field decision. Sophie Molineux starts her spell from over the wickets, and lands a good-length delivery on the off stump line. It grips and turns into the batter. Also, stays a bit low and skids on quickly towards the batter. Smriti Mandhana is cramped up for room and is hurried into the shot to work it across to the leg side. Ends up playing all over it and gets a ping on the front pad. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is crashing into the leg stump on the projection. A sedate start for Smriti Mandhana comes to an end as the Indian vice-captain departs on 6 (12). India Women are 39/2 in 5.1 overs.

Sophie Molineux is introduced into the attack, replacing Ash Gardner.

4.6: Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Down the ground again, and four more! Lands a genuine half-volley on middle, does Annabel Sutherland. Jemimah Rodrigues clears her front leg to create room and lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary downtown. The ball dribbles on a couple of bounces and runs into the fence.

4.5: Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Good shot! Pitched up, outside off, Jemimah Rodrigues makes use of her feet, walks a couple of steps ahead and drills it over mid off for a boundary.

4.4: Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, A half-tracker outside off, Jemimah punches it off the backfoot to cover point.

4.3: Annabel Sutherland to Smriti Mandhana, Good length and outside off, Mandhana drives it on the up to sweeper covers for a single.

4.2: Annabel Sutherland to Smriti Mandhana, Pitched up around off, Mandhana drives it to mid off.

4.1: Annabel Sutherland to Jemimah Rodrigues, Fuller one, and around off, Jemimah walks well across and comes down the track and looks to flick it but misses. Gets rapped on the pads before the ball rolls near the strip. McGrath chats with her teammates and opts for a review. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved and the Ball Tracking shows the impact outside off.

Is that out? Sutherland appeals but the umpire denies. They go upstairs and challenge the on-field decision for LBW! Ball Tracking shows that the impact is outside off by a few meters and it is deemed as NOT OUT!

Annabel Sutherland is into the attack now, replacing Megan Schutt.

3.6: Ash Gardner to Jemimah Rodrigues, Short and turning in on leg, Jemimah pulls it towards deep backward square leg for a single.

3.5: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Nice and tossed up full, on off, Smriti Mandhana drives it through covers for a single.

3.4: Ash Gardner to Jemimah Rodrigues, Good length, on middle, glanced away to behind square for a single.

Jemimah Rodrigues is in at number 3.

3.3: Ash Gardner to Shafali Verma, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Australia Women get their first breakthrough and Ash Gardner provides the pricy wicket of Shafali Verma! Ash Gardner fractionally pulls her length, not too short and not too full, on off and middle, Shafali Verma premeditates and sits down on her knee to slog it across. It skids and comes on quickly and hence, Verma mistimes her shot. She doesn't quite hit it from the sweet spot and it goes flat and straight down the throat of Annabel Sutherland stationed at long on. She takes an easy catch yards inside the ropes.

3.2: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Had to hurry there! Good length, around off, Smriti Mandhana crunches the cut shot to cover-point and takes a risky single.

3.1: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Slow and on a good length, spins away from the batter, Smriti Mandhana negotiates it well and taps it near the strip.

2.6: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, SIX! BANG! Megan Schutt hurls it full and keeps the line of attack on the off stump, Shafali Verma gets her bat underneath the ball and lofts it over long off for a six to end the third over. India Women are 25/0.

2.5: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Nicely bowled and a good piece of wicket-keeping by Phoebe Litchfield there! A quicker yorker outside off, Shafali Verma misses to slash it away and Phoebe Litchfield does well to collect it sharply behind the pegs.

2.4: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Takes the pace off on a good length, pushed to the right of the bowler.

2.3: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Good timing on that one! Very full on off, a leg-cutter, Shafali Verma clears her front foot and drills it down for a boundary to the right of long off.

2.2: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Almost chopped on! On a good length, skidding through quickly on the batter, Shafali Verma is on the back foot and tries to hit it to the off side, ends up inside edging it on the pads.

2.1: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Nice and full, on off, Verma pushes it back to the bowler.

2.1: Megan Schutt to Smriti Mandhana, Way down leg, flat and quick, on a good length, Smriti Mandhana misses to glance it away and the keeper too fails to collect it cleanly. The ball ricochets off her gloves and runs to deep fine. They cross.

1.6: Ash Gardner to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Nice shot! Much fuller, almost a half-volley from Ash Gardner. On middle, Shafali Verma sits on her knee and slogs it over the inner ring, gets a boundary at deep mid-wicket.

1.5: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Tossed up, pushed through on off, Smriti Mandhana hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

1.4: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Quicker, flatter, and fuller on the stumps, Mandhana nudges it to mid-wicket.

1.3: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, In front of the stumps, on middle, Smriti Mandhana plays it across to the leg side but finds the fielder at square leg.

1.2: Ash Gardner to Shafali Verma, Short and turning in on the stumps, Shafali punches it towards long on for a single.

1.1: Ash Gardner to Shafali Verma, DROPPED AT COVERS! Length ball, on the stumps, Shafali Verma moves to create room but chips it straight to Megan Schutt at covers who spills and parries the ball to the deep. Allows a couple of runs.

Who bowls from the other end? It will be Ash Gardner. Spin from the other end.

0.6: Megan Schutt to Smriti Mandhana, Lovely shot. Overpitched, outside off, Mandhana leans and drives it between cover and mid off.

0.5: Megan Schutt to Smriti Mandhana, Landed around middle, Mandhana tries to play the reverse scoop but misses. The keeper for tonight, Beth Mooney, is blinded and fumbles. Mandhana looks for the bye but short third gets across quickly and Mandhana is sent back.

0.4: Megan Schutt to Smriti Mandhana, On a good length, around middle, Smriti Mandhana defends it back to the bowler.

0.3: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Short of a good length, on the top of the middle, Shafali Verma hangs back and drills it to long on for a single.

0.2: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Back of a length around off, Shafali punches it off the back foot to mid off.

0.1: Megan Schutt to Shafali Verma, Intent first up! Good length and outside off, Shafali lifts it over mid on but doesn't time it well, and only manages to clear the fielder in the ring, and gets off the mark with a couple of runs.

So 152 is the target for India. They might have started this game to try and chase down a target inside 10 or 15 overs, just so that their net run rate gets a good lift. But for now, they should be focusing on the win. Not on the type of the win. The players are back on the field. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are the openers for India Women. Megan Schutt will start off to Shafali. Here we go.

... THE RUN CHASE ...

India will be happy with their bowling, but not their fielding. They dropped multiple catches and even though, individually, those did not matter match, but it certainly helped the partnerships grow. You never know, had those catches been taken at that point in time, Australia might have been kept to 130 or below. Barring Arundhati Reddy, who was slightly off colour, everyone bowled well, aiming to be wicket to wicket. Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma picked up 2 wickets apiece.

Renuka Singh Thakur started a bit double-faced, struggling with the new ball to control her lines but then got 2 wickets in 2 balls. Australia then had a partnership through Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath before a collapse saw them stutter from 79/2 to 101/5. But there was another rearguard action, this time from Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield, which helped them reach the 150-mark. Harris, McGrath and Perry batted really responsibly, not throwing it away, while the fact that we did not see a single half centurion shows how difficult it was, even for a set batter.

Not the traditional T20 matches where you see boundaries continuously. Australia batted at around 6-7 runs per throughout their innings but managed 50 runs in those last 5 overs, getting a bit of a lift. Just 2 sixes were hit in the overall innings, which tells you how difficult it was to clear the fence.

Well, eventually, after a big tussle throughout the innings, Australia Women have managed to touch the 150-mark. As per WV Raman's pitch analysis, 140 was a par score, but this does not look like a Bunsen pitch nor is it too slow. But yes, it is a competitive score for sure.

19.6: Shreyanka Patil to Phoebe Litchfield, SIX! Phoebe Litchfield provides the perfect propulsion for Australia Women towards the backend with this huge six! Lands it full and in front of the stumps, Phoebe Litchfield sits down and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Megan Schutt walks in now to face the team hattrick, replacing Sophie Molineux.

19.5: Shreyanka Patil to Sophie Molineux, OUT! RUN OUT! DRAMA IN THE LAST OVER! Short and turning away outside off, Molineux cuts it uppishly square of the wicket. Jemimah from backward point moves forward and dives to get both hands to it but spills it as the ball dips on her and falls just ahead. Now, that's where the confusion starts! Sophie Molineux gets to the other end with a single quickly, but eventually thinks that the catch is taken and starts walking back to the pavilion. Phoebe Litchfield alerts her but Jemimah Rodrigues is quick to make amends, gets up and picks the ball, and throws it to the bowler's end. However, the throw is wayward but Sophie Molineux is already way out of her crease. Shreyanka Patil collects it and has ample time to break the stumps.

Sophie Molineux walks in at number 9, replacing Annabel Sutherland.

19.4: Shreyanka Patil to Annabel Sutherland, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Shreyanka redeems herself nicely here. She lands it on the off stump line, gets a good bit of purchase off the pitch. The ball grips and turns into the batter. Annabel Sutherland sees the flight and aims to pick the bones out of it. She dances down the track and swooshes her bat across but ends up playing all over the line. She tries to hit it too hard and loses her shape. The ball sneaks through the gap between the bat and the pad and breaks into the stumps.

19.3: Shreyanka Patil to Annabel Sutherland, FOUR! WALLOP! Full, outside off, the arm ball, Sutherland gets under the ball and lofts it over cover.

19.2: Shreyanka Patil to Phoebe Litchfield, Very well bowled. Delivered from the back of the hand, like a fast bowler, looks like an arm ball but instead it is a slower one. Pitched outside leg, Phoebe Litchfield goes for the pull but misses and is hit on the body. The ball dribbles to the leg side and a leg bye is taken.

19.1: Shreyanka Patil to Annabel Sutherland, Full, outside off, Annabel Sutherland comes down the track and hits it back to the bowler. Shreyanka Patil is unable to stop that and the ball goes through to long off. Just a single.

Who bowls the last over? Shreyanka Patil. 3-0-21-0 so far.

18.6: Deepti Sharma to Annabel Sutherland, Length ball, on stumps, Annabel Sutherland hits it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over. A wicket and 7 runs from the penultimate over!

18.5: Deepti Sharma to Annabel Sutherland, A low full toss on the stumps, Annabel Sutherland skips down the track and smacks it straight back to Deepti Sharma who dives to her right and stops the ball on her follow-through.

18.4: Deepti Sharma to Annabel Sutherland, FOUR! In the gap and gets off the mark in style does Annabel Sutherland! This is on a good length, on the leg stump line, Annabel Sutherland works it across and neatly threads the gap between square leg and short fine for a boundary.

Annabel Sutherland walks in at number 8, replacing Ellyse Perry.

18.3: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, OUT! CAUGHT! Sajana Sajeevan is in pain but it is a gain for her team. The plan finally works for India. They have kept a deep mid-wicket to try and entice Perry into playing in that region and after hitting a few boundaries through there, she finally falls into that trap. Flighted, on middle, Ellyse Perry comes down the track and heaves across the line. Cannot quite get to the pitch of the ball and hence, the power is not there. Substitute Sajana Sajeevan is stationed at deep mid-wicket and the ball flies straight to her. While taking the catch, the seam of the ball cuts across her fingers and she is in immense pain, but does well not to let the ball go down. Ellyse Perry departs for 32 (23) and the 33-run stand is broken. Australia Women are 134/6 with 9 balls left.

Penalty for India. The on-air commentators inform us that because India have gone past the deadline for bowling their 20 overs, an over-rate penalty has been imposed on them. So they can have only four fielders in the deep for the remaining two overs.

18.2: Deepti Sharma to Phoebe Litchfield, DROPPED SHORT! A length ball, around middle Phoebe Litchfield dances down the track and looks to go down the track but slices it. The ball lands just in front of a diving Harmanpreet Kaur at mid off. A run taken.

18.1: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, A short ball, around off, Ellyse Perry rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

17.6: Radha Yadav to Ellyse Perry, A knee-length full toss, Ellyse Perry dances down the ground and works it along the ground for a single to long on.

17.5: Radha Yadav to Phoebe Litchfield, Flighted ball, on the stumps, Litchfield sweeps it towards deep square leg for a single.

17.4: Radha Yadav to Ellyse Perry, Radha Yadav lands it on a good length, outside off, Ellyse Perry goes deep inside the crease and cuts it to cover. Smriti Mandhana picks and throws in a motion to the keeper's end but Phoebe Litchfield does pretty well to get home safely for a single.

17.3: Radha Yadav to Phoebe Litchfield, Down the leg side, PL goes back and works it through square leg for a run.

17.2: Radha Yadav to Ellyse Perry, Short, this time in line of the stumps, Perry cuts again and calls for a single now. The throw comes in to the keeper's end where the keeper misses. It goes behind and Perry goes for the overthrow but Litchfield has to dive to make it in, hence is not paying attention. Maybe, she is still thinking about her reprieve. Replay shows that had there been a direct hit, Phoebe would have been gone!

17.1: Radha Yadav to Ellyse Perry, Radha Yadav comes into the attack again. Starts off with a short ball, outside off, Ellyse Perry cuts it through point where Deepti Sharma dives to her left and stops it.

16.6: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, Keeps it on off, good in length, Ellyse Perry is quick to go back and across, drills it down to long on for a single to retain the strike.

16.5: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, Good running there! Tossed up full on the stumps, Perry steps out and works it to the left of deep mid-wicket. Litchfield calls for the second quickly and completes it. The throw comes in to the bowler who fires a direct hit at the keeper's end but Perry is well in.

16.4: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! PERRY SPRAYS SALT ON THE WOUNDS! Short and on the middle, Ellyse Perry hangs back and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball dribbles to the deep and the two fielders from deep square leg and deep mid-wicket converge, but the ball evades and bisects the two fielders into the ropes. Pooja Vastrakar was a bit casual there as she could have put on a dive to cut the ball off. 

16.3: Deepti Sharma to Phoebe Litchfield, A tad short again, Phoebe goes back and clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

16.2: Deepti Sharma to Phoebe Litchfield, LBW DECISION OVERTURNED! Well, we are talking so much about changes in ICC rules and regulations and this one is right up there for a debate. It was a tad shorter than full and Litchfield went for the reverse pull. She missed and was hit right in front of the stumps. Deepti appealed and the umpire, Sue Redfern, raised her finger. Litchfield had a chat with Perry and went for the review. UltraEdge indicates no bat or glove but Ball Tracker shows the ball to be PITCHING OUTSIDE LEG. Now, here is where controversy starts. The decision is reversed but the Indians are crowding around Redfern. Smriti Mandhana seems to indicate that if Litchfield played the switch hit, shouldn't the leg side now become an off side? The umpire seems to agree and sends it upstairs again. The third umpire has another look and determines that the position of the hands did not change while playing that shot and hence, it is not a switch hit, but a reverse sweep. So the decision is overturned once again. But the debate still remains - switch or reverse - shouldn't the angles change, if the batter changes the stance? Not just the grip? One for the lawkeepers.

16.1: Deepti Sharma to Phoebe Litchfield, FOUR! VIOLENCE! Deepti Sharma Flighted, on middle, Phoebe Litchfield reaches forward and lofts it straight back over the bowler. 14 runs in the last 3 balls for Australia.

15.6: Shreyanka Patil to Ellyse Perry, SIX! UP, UP, AND AWAY! FIRST SIX FOR AUSTRALIA WOMEN! Pitched very full, on the middle and leg, from around the stumps by Patil. Ellyse Perry is lured in the flight, steps out, swooshes her bat across and goes airborne over deep mid-wicket for a huge six. 14 from the over, Shreyanka Patil's figures read 3-0-21-0.

15.5: Shreyanka Patil to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! BANG! WHAT. A. SHOT! Flat and short from around the wickets, an arm-ball, on the leg stump line, Ellyse Perry squats at it and pulls it across to deep square leg for a boundary.

15.4: Shreyanka Patil to Ellyse Perry, Much fuller and on the stumps, angling on middle and leg, Ellyse Perry tilts ahead and works it to deep mid-wicket for a quick couple of runs. This is good running by the two.

15.3: Shreyanka Patil to Phoebe Litchfield, Gets off the mark on her first ball. Full, on leg stump, Phoebe Litchfield comes forward and flicks it wide of long on for a run.

15.2: Shreyanka Patil to Ellyse Perry, On middle, punched through mid on for a single.

15.1: Shreyanka Patil to Ellyse Perry, Full, outside off, spinning in a long way, Ellyse Perry looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. Shreyanka starts to appeal for LBW but then bails out. Going way down leg.

Australia's batting is clearly being tested big time. Phoebe Litchfield walks in at number 7, replacing Ash Gardner, to face the music. Shreyanka Patil returns as well. 2-0-7-0 so far.

14.6: Pooja Vastrakar to Ash Gardner, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Half of the Aussie side is in the sheds now. Pooja Vastrakar lands  a shorter one, outside off. It gets a bit of spongy bounce off the deck and gets heavy on the batter. Ash Gardner stands tall and goes through her shot. Slashes her bat horizontally but ends up slicing it high up in the air. It goes only as far as Radha Yadav stationed at covers who moves behind and takes a good reverse-cup catch. Ash Gardner departs on run-a-ball 6 and Australia Women are 101/5 down after 15 overs. They have lost 3/22 in 20 balls!

14.5: Pooja Vastrakar to Ash Gardner, A huge appeal for caught behind but the umpire shakes her head in denial! Indians are looking pretty confident and Harmanpreet Kaur goes upstairs. This is very full and outside off, the outswing further takes the ball away from the batter. Ash Gardner crouches a bit to work it through the off side but plays inside the line of the ball and it goes flat and straight to Richa Ghosh who gloves it. There was definitely a sound but UltraEdge shows that it was off the bat hitting the ground and not the ball edging the bat. India lose both the reviews now. Ash Gardner is safe!

14.4: Pooja Vastrakar to Ash Gardner, Tight line, on middle and leg, Ash Gardner does well to push it off the back foot to mid on. Ellyse Perry wants a single there but gets a sharp send-back by Gardner. Perry obeys and retreats in time.

14.3: Pooja Vastrakar to Ash Gardner, FOUR! An Ash Gardner special. Vastrakar pitches it up a touch, in line around the off stump, Gardner presents the full face of her bat and lofts it straight back. Gets a bit more height than distance but has enough on it to clear mid on. The ball lands just inside the ropes at long on. 100 UP FOR AUSTRALIA!

14.2: Pooja Vastrakar to Ellyse Perry, Short and outside off, Ellyse Perry cuts it straight to Deepti Sharma at point. But she fumbles and concedes a single.

14.1: Pooja Vastrakar to Ash Gardner, Pooja Vastrakar is back on. Starts off with a length delivery, around off, Ash Gardner looks to pull but struggles to time the ball off the surface. Gets it off the inner half of the bat through square leg and a single is taken.

13.6: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, Flat and quick, on a good length, Ellyse Perry tucks it to the short mid-wicket fielder to end the over.

13.5: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, Pitches it up, and provides a lot of flight on it, full and spinning in. This is knocked to short mid-wicket by Perry.

13.4: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, Quick legs there! Just outside off on a dragged length, Ellyse Perry goes deep inside the crease and threads the cut through cover-point for a quick couple of runs.

13.3: Deepti Sharma to Ash Gardner, In the air, not far! Nearly two in two for Deepti. Flighted, outside off, Ash Gardner comes forward to defend. But the ball holds a lot more on the surface and she plays way too early. Ends up popping it back and luckily for her, it flies over the bowler, to her left, down to long off. A single taken to get off the mark.

Ash Gardner walks in at number 6, replacing Grace Harris.

13.2: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, OUT! CAUGHT! Two wickets in quick succession, of both the set batters and India are turning this around now. A real poor delivery but Deepti will not mind. In fact, Harris will be kicking herself. Short and around off, there to be hammered away. Grace Harris rocks back and sets herself for the pull but the ball holds a touch on the surface and turns away a bit as well. That maybe forces Harris to play a bit early and drag the ball a touch. Ends up hitting it flat and straight to Smriti Mandhana who is placed very strategically, just between mid on and mid-wicket. Excellent captaincy. Harris departs for 40 (41) and Australia Women find themselves at 92/4 after 13.2 overs. Harris was put down on 24 by Deepti Sharma off the bowling of Arundhati Reddy and Deepti redeems herself.

13.1: Deepti Sharma to Ellyse Perry, Deepti Sharma returns. Lands it outside off, Ellyse Perry rocks back and guides it to short third for a quick single.

12.6: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, FOUR! POOR AND RIGHTLY PUNISHED! Grace Harris says, 'Thank You'! Way down leg on a fullish length, Grace Harris sits on her knee and works it across the line, hits it through deep backward square leg for a cracking boundary. With this, Harris moves into her 40s!

12.5: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, On off, on a length, Harris hangs back and punches it straight to covers.

12.4: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, FOUR! Put away! A genuine half-volley on offer, Grace Harris holds her shape well, weighs on the front foot, gets her bat properly underneath and lofts it neatly over the bowler's head for a boundary.

12.3: Arundhati Reddy to Ellyse Perry, A touch short, outside off, Ellyse Perry punches it to sweeper cover for a single.

12.2: Arundhati Reddy to Ellyse Perry, This time she connects and finds the gap. On a length, around off, Perry goes back and works it behind square leg for a couple.

12.1: Arundhati Reddy to Ellyse Perry, Outside off, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Mithali Raj on air informs us that Radha Yadav was a last-minute inclusion in the Indian team for tonight. She details that during the warmup, Asha Sobhana tweaked something and had to be ruled out. One feels that this might have happened post toss, else Harmanpreet Kaur would have mentioned it at the flip of the coin. Arundhati Reddy returns. 2-0-13-0 so far.

11.6: Radha Yadav to Ellyse Perry, Short outside off, Perry cuts it to the sweeper covers for a single and gets off the mark rightaway.

Ellyse Perry walks in at number 5, replacing her skipper, Tahlia McGrath.

11.5: Radha Yadav to Tahlia McGrath, OUT! STUMPED! An important wicket for India, and luckily for them, the dropped chace does not count! Radha bowls it slower through the air this time, around off. The ball pitches, grips and turns very sharply away from the batter. McGrath dances down the track and swings hard at it to go aerial across the line but misses it completely. The keeper, Richa Ghosh behind the stumps, does the rest and the bails are dislodged in a flash with McGrath well outside the popping crease. The 62-run stand is broken and the Australian skipper departs on a fighting 32 (25). Australia Women are 79/3 after 11.5 overs.

11.4: Radha Yadav to Grace Harris, IN THE AIR...FALLS SAFE! This is full and on the stumps, Grace Harris walks a couple of steps ahead to clear the in-field but mistimes in the air off the toe end. The ball swirls over the mid off region. Harmanpreet Kaur from covers scoots and dives to her right but couldn't reach to it and it lands safe. A single then.

11.3: Radha Yadav to Tahlia McGrath, DROPPED! Very, very unlike the Indian skipper. Flighted, outside off, Tahlia comes the down and looks to go inside out, but cannot quite get to the pitch of the ball. The ball goes flat and straight towards Harmanpreet Kaur who has to probably move a bit to her right, but she puts it down. A single taken.

11.2: Radha Yadav to Tahlia McGrath, Short again, outside off, McGrath cuts it through point and straightaway calls for two, seeing sweeper cover had a fair amount of ground to cover to her left. Two runs easily taken.

11.1: Radha Yadav to Tahlia McGrath, FOUR! TONK! Radha Yadav comes into the attack and bowls it short and wide outside off. Tahlia McGrath gets across and pulls it over square leg for a boundary.

10.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tahlia McGrath, Huge, huge appeal for LBW! Umpire says 'No' and after a long chat, Harmanpreet Kaur opts for a review signaling the 'T'. Renuka Singh bowls a full toss that curves back in a long way. Tahlia McGrath shuffles to the off side to play it across, but moves a bit too across and goes through her shot. Swings and misses to connect, and wears it on the pads before the ball rolls near the deck. She instantly realises and crosses over for a leg bye. No bat involved as it is confirmed by the UltraEdge. Now, the Ball Tracking comes up and shows that the ball is sliding down a long way down leg. NOT OUT! India burn a review here as well. Renuka Singh Thakur is done for the evening - 4-0-24-2. Struggled a touch initially but those are excellent returns.

10.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, A slower one, outside off on a good length, Grace Harris throws her arms at it and slices it over the cover-point region for a single.

10.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tahlia McGrath, Thakur bowls it full with an inswing on middle, Tahlia McGrath slaps it hard and flat to long off for a single.

10.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Very wide, outside off, on a length, extremely slow, Grace gets a long way across and pulls it through square leg for a single.

10.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Outside off, a touch short, Harris looks to cut but the ball stays very low and goes beneath the bat. Excellent take by Richa Ghosh, the keeper.

10.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, ALMOST A BREAKTHROUGH! This did not carry. A length ball, on middle, Grace Harris flicks it uppishly, behind square leg. Pooja Vastrakar charges to her right, giving good example of her fitness and dives to her right, almost getting to the ball! But unfortunately for her, it lands just in front and gets parried away. That allows the batters to take the second and raise the 50-RUN STAND IN 44 balls. Good fightback from the batters and a supreme effort from Vastrakar.

DRINKS BREAK. Engrossing three-quarters of an hour thus far. India have been up and about for this contest, eager to strike blows while Australia have been a tad cautious. Not sure whether that cautiousness is because of the wicket, where the ball is not quite coming onto the bat or is it simply because they lost two wickets pretty quickly. Considering the batting lineup they have, normally they go hard at the opposition bowlers but clearly, one can see that they feel they are up against a big challenge here. India have been largely unblemished, barring the initial new-ball spray from Renuka Singh Thakur where she conceded quite a few extras, but then she made up for it with her twin blows. Deepti Sharma would be eagerly hoping to either make up for that dropped chance of Grace Harris or see someone else dismiss her soon. Because if she hangs around, she can cause some damage. It is 50-50 at this stage, not quite sure who exactly is on top. Renuka Singh Thakur returns to bowl out. 3-0-19-2 so far.

9.6: Deepti Sharma to Tahlia McGrath, Could have been a better effort in the field there! Deepti drags her length, around off, McGrath rocks back, cuts it to the right of diving Shafali Verma at cover-point but misses on the interception and deflects to her right. Harmanpreet Kaur scoots from cover, dives to her left and gets a hand to it. The batters cross for the double in the meantime. Halfway into the first innings and Australia Women are 65/2.

9.5: Deepti Sharma to Tahlia McGrath, Full and flat at 79.6 kph, outside off, Tahlia McGrath sits down to reverse sweep it away but does not get any bat on it.

9.4: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, Deepti bowls it on a good length, keeps the line of attack on middle, Grace Harris hangs back and works it to long on for a single.

9.3: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, Full and straight again, Harris defends it back to the bowler.

9.2: Deepti Sharma to Tahlia McGrath, Risky shot from McGrath. Goes way too back to a full and straight ball and gets her bat down in time to flick it through square leg for a run.

9.1: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, Full, tossed up, a bit wide outside off, Grace Harris reaches out and drags the slog sweep through mid-wicket. Just a single.

Chance of redemption. After dropping Harris in the previous over, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has given the ball to Deepti Sharma.

8.6: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, Hurls it down leg, does Arundhati Reddy, on a good length and further sliding down. Tahlia McGrath gets a faint edge as she tries to work it across. Richa Ghosh behind the wickets fails to collect it cleanly and the ball pops out of her gloves. 

8.5: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, On the pads, on a good length, Tahlia McGrath plays over the line on the back foot and gets rapped on the thigh pad. A tentative appeal for LBW but no reaction from the umpire.

8.4: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, FOUR! Clever, clever batting from the Aussie skipper here! Pitched up at a gentle pace, on the stumps, Tahlia McGrath sees the fielder at cover inside the circle, shuffles to create room and lofts it over the covers for a boundary.

8.3: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, DROPPED, OR DROPPED SHORT? A touch short, outside off, Harris went for the cut. Could not keep it down and it went dipping towards Deepti Sharma at backward point. Now, Deepti did get low to try and take it, but could not hang on. A single taken. Oh dear. The replay shows that the ball did carry to Deepti.

8.2: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, Gives herself room to the leg side and punches it to the left of deep point for a single.

8.1: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, A touch too full, on middle, Tahlia McGrath flicks it through mid-wicket. The batters take the single and Harris wants the second, but McGrath is not sure. She takes off late but makes it easily in the end.

7.6: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, FOUR! INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE! 50 UP FOR AUSTRALIA! Gaining some momentum now, are Australia. A wayward line from Pooja Vastrakar, down leg, Grace Harris simply shuffles across and paddles it past the left of the wicket-keeper for a boundary at deep fine. 10 from the over, Pooja Vastrakar's figures read 2-0-16-0.

7.5: Pooja Vastrakar to Tahlia McGrath, Short of a good length, just outside off, Tahlia McGrath slashes it to wide of cover for a quick single.

7.4: Pooja Vastrakar to Tahlia McGrath, A sharp bouncer from Pooja Vastrakar, on the stumps, Tahlia McGrath does well to duck underneath it.

7.3: Pooja Vastrakar to Tahlia McGrath, FOUR! AWESOME! On the charge, is McGrath and she has found the middle of the bat. A length ball, outside off, Tahlia McGrath jumps down the track, converts it into a half volley and drives it through the covers.

7.2: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, On a good length, outside off, nipping back in sharply, Harris looked to tuck it to the leg side but missed and was hit on the pads. India appealed for LBW but the umpire, Kim Cotton, moved away. The batters went for the single and there was a throw at the stumps. In fact, it nearly hit Vastrakar on its way but still found its mark at the bowler's end. Harris was in there, but the Indians deliberate about the review. The bowler feels this was close but the keeper indicates height. The captain is not convinced and lets it be. Ball Tracker shows it to be clipping the leg stump, so umpire's call and Harris would have stayed. No signal for the leg bye either, so might have been an inside edge as well.

Deliberation time! Well, this looked really close in real time. Vastrakar feels that she has Harris LBW but Richa Ghosh seems to reckon that the ball might go over the stumps. Harmanpreet Kaur comes in for a chat but eventually, does not take the review. Ball Tracker shows it to be clipping the top of leg stump, meaning umpire's call. They would not have lost the review, had they gone upstairs but not got the wicket either.

7.1: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, Pooja Vastrakar is back on. Full, around off, tailing in slightly, Grace Harris seems to be going back to the leg stump every now and again, to try and open up the off side. Mistimes her drive to mid off.

6.6: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, Back of a length and fairly outside off, Harris hangs back, and punches it off the back foot through the cover-point region for a single to retain strike.

6.5: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, On the stumps, on a fractionally fuller length, Tahlia McGrath is on the back foot and turns it off her wrists for a single at deep mid-wicket.

6.4: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, Reddy goes fuller and it curves back in, on middle, Tahlia McGrath gets on the front foot to work it across but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

6.3: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, Around off, punched through the covers for a run.

6.2: Arundhati Reddy to Tahlia McGrath, Full and straight again, Tahlia McGrath plays all around it and misses her flick. Richa Ghosh, the keeper, appeals for LBW but the batters go for the run, with the ball deflecting towards the leg side. The keeper herself goes after the ball and the single is completed. No signal from the umpire, so must have been an inside edge.

6.1: Arundhati Reddy to Grace Harris, Arundhati Reddy comes in to bowl the first over post the Powerplay. Bowls it on the pads, Grace Harris helps it through square leg for a single.

5.6: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, Much fuller on the leg stump line, Grace Harris leans on and works it to the leg side for an easy single. End of the Powerplay and Australia Women are 37/2.

5.5: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, Back of a length at the stumps, Harris rocks back and knocks it to the right of the bowler. Shreyanka Patil moves to her right and stops the ball.

5.4: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, Some turn, again! Pitched full and turns in sharply from middle and leg, Grace Harris misses to tickle it away and the ball ricochets off her pads to run away down to deep fine for a couple of leg byes. 

5.3: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, Fuller, around off, driven towards the bowler.

5.2: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, Good comeback by Shreyanka, around off, Harris defends watchfully.

5.1: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, FOUR! THWACK! Tossed up, outside off, Grace Harris goes down on a knee and attempts a massive slog sweep. Gets good connection and beats deep square leg to her left.

4.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Length ball angling into the pads, Harris looks to flick it away on the leg side, but misses. The ball deflects off her thigh pad towards square leg region and a single is taken. Leg bye is signalled.

4.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tahlia McGrath, Overpitched delivery outside off, McGrath presses forward and drives it to the left of Jemimah Rodrigues at covers for a quick single.

4.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, That's through everyone! This one tails back in a long way from off, full in length, Grace Harris goes for a hoick across but misses as she plays over the line and Richa Ghosh too, fails to collect it cleanly behind the stumps. The ball rolls behind her and a bye is taken.

4.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tahlia McGrath, Around off, coming in, punched down to long on for a run.

4.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tahlia McGrath, On a good length, outside off, Tahlia McGrath plays a loose-looking punch through the off side without moving her feet and misses.

4.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Fuller, outside off, Harris goes for a big booming drive through the off side, but the ball comes in, takes the inner half of the bat and rolls to deep mid-wicket. A single taken.

4.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, WIDE. Down the leg side, Grace Harris misses her flick.

3.6: Pooja Vastrakar to Tahlia McGrath, FOUR! SHOT! Not a great delivery and it is punished rightly by the Aussie skipper! Length ball curving down leg, McGrath hangs back and tucks it through fine leg to find the fence.

3.5: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, Short of a good length, outside off, Grace Harris cuts it straight to point where the fielder gets a bad bounce and ends up parrying the ball to the cover region. A single taken.

3.4: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, Pitched up, full and around off, Grace Harris drills it down the ground but finds the fielder at mid off.

3.3: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, Full and just around off, Harris defends watchfully.

3.2: Pooja Vastrakar to Grace Harris, A touch short, a bit wider outside off, shaping away, Grace Harris slashes but misses.

3.1: Pooja Vastrakar to Tahlia McGrath, Pooja Vastrakar comes into the attack now. Starts on a good length, around off, Tahlia McGrath pushes it towards point and takes a quick single.

2.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Tahlia McGrath,  Full ball with a bit of inswing on it, McGrath looks to flick but it deflects off her pads and rolls towards short fine for a leg bye. 9 runs from the over, but Renuka will not mind it, having taken two wickets!

Who will come in to face the hattrick ball? It is the skipper, Tahlia McGrath, replacing Georgia Wareham.

2.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Georgia Wareham, OUT! LBW! RENUKA ON A HAT TRICK! Renuka Singh Thakur pitches it up and around off, it swings back in sharply with the angle. Wareham leans forward to push it towards mid on but plays down the wrong line, gets beaten on the front pad and is trapped for room. A huge appeal for LBW and up goes the finger. Georgia Wareham does have a chat with her partner but eventually decides to walk away without challenging the on-field decision. The replay however, shows that the ball was sliding down the leg side. Had Wareham opted for the review, she could have been saved here!

Georgia Wareham walks in at number 3, replacing Beth Mooney.

2.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, OUT! FLAT IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! A good sharp catch by Radha Yadav at point and Renuka Singh Thakur's joy knows no bounds. Renuka keeps the line of attack around off and pitches it a tad bit up. The ball stops a bit on the deck and Beth Mooney stands tall and just goes for a push tentatively. Ends up hitting it flat and straight to Radha Yadav. The ball dips ahead of the fielder but Radha dives forward and takes a good low catch. Mooney departs for 2 (7) and Australia Women are 17/1 after 2.4 overs!

2.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Short, outside off, Harris looks to cut but the ball stops a touch on the surface. She gets a bottom edge which goes past the keeper, Richa Ghosh. Short third gets across to her left and keeps the batters to a single.

2.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Around middle, on a good length. Beth Mooney taps it to the left of point. She just looks up at Harris and the single is completed with ease.

2.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, FIVE WIDES! Unfortunate for India and Renuka. This is one of the disadvantages when the keeper is upto the stumps. If Richa Ghosh had been standing behind, it would have been an easy take for her. Renuka bowls this outside leg on a good length and Ghosh is blinded, with Mooney missing her flick as well. The ball races to the fine leg fence.

2.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, A length ball, outside off, Grace Harris plays the first big shot of the game as she goes aerial. Aims to swing leg side but the ball comes in, takes the inner half of the bat and flies over mid-wicket. There is a boundary rider in that direction, so it is just a single.

1.6: Shreyanka Patil to Beth Mooney, Oooh! Turn and drift! Good start for Shreyanka Patil! Lands it full and outside leg, it drifts on middle, Beth Mooney does well to keep it out.

1.5: Shreyanka Patil to Grace Harris, Length ball with a bit of purchase off the deck, turning in sharply, Grace Harris uses the depth of the crease and nudges it with soft hands to the leg side in the deep for a single.

1.4: Shreyanka Patil to Beth Mooney, Shreyanka lands it full, a bit of tail in from the off stump, Beth Mooney pats her front foot ahead and flicks it across to deep square leg for an easy single.

1.3: Shreyanka Patil to Beth Mooney, Down the leg side, this time Beth sweeps but finds short fine leg.

1.2: Shreyanka Patil to Beth Mooney, A bit straighter, on leg stump, Mooney looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. She looks for the single but Richa Ghosh distracts her with an LBW appeal. Comfortably going down leg.

1.1: Shreyanka Patil to Beth Mooney, Beaten straightaway! Shreyanka tosses this one on middle and a cautious Beth Mooney tentatively pushes at it. The ball holds its line and beats the outside edge.

Who will bowl from the other end? Will Harman go to spin or will she make it seam from both ends? It will be spin. Shreyanka Patil, who has been impressive ever since the WPL was held in 2023, comes onto bowl. A slip in place.

0.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, On target to finish the over! Length ball, at off, Grace Harris presses forward and knocks it solidly and confidently underneath the bat to end the over. 5 runs off the first over then.

0.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Length ball around middle and leg, swinging into the batter at a gentle pace, Harris flicks it through square leg for a couple as Pooja Vastrakar moves to her left from deep fine and cuts it down.

0.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Ooooh! Action! Sprays it on the pads does Renuka Singh Thakur. On a length, Grace Harris is on the back foot and tries to glance it away but plays over it. It ricochets off her pads and goes behind. Richa Ghosh moves to the direction of the ball, fails to hold onto the ball at first attempt, tumbles over and manages to keep it near the stumps. Was there a stumping chance? A close call though as Harris was out from the popping crease but did well to drag her feet back in, taking the advantage of Richa fumbling behind the wickets to hold onto it.

0.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, WIDE! She will have to reload this one. Wayward down leg, Grace Harris misses to tickle it away to the leg side and it is collected well by Richa Ghosh behind the pegs. Wide called.

0.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Around off, tighter line and length, Grace defends.

0.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, FOUR! THUNDEROUS! A gift from Renuka and Harris pounces all over it. Probably the bowler felt that Harris would charge at her and hence, dropped it wide and short outside off. But Grace Harris stayed where she was and cut it fiercely through point.

0.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Right on the money. Full, around off, Grace Harris pushes it towards point.

Okay! 'Advance Australia Fair' is done and so is 'Jana Gana Mana' and with that, we are all in readiness for a hopefully spicy contest to unfold. The Indians spread themselves out onto the field. They are now followed by the two Aussie openers - a new pair for this game - Beth Mooney and Grace Harris. Hard to say whether Harris just keeps smiling all the time or her face itself is so warm and friendly. Renuka Singh Thakur has the new ball in her hand. Normally, in Aus-Ind clashes, the Healy-Renuka contest is eagerly awaited. No Healy today, so Harris would be in the firing line. Here we go, the keeper is upto the stumps.

Time for the national anthems. It will be Australia's first, followed by India's.

Right then. How big is Healy's absence going to prove, for Australia? One does not need to be a rocket scientist to say that India have an early advantage even before this game gets going because to replace Healy, you need three players. You need a batter, who can take care of the opposition in the Powerplay and consistently score 50s and 100s in the semis and finals of a global tournament. Then, you need a keeper to be as quick as lightning with her glovework. And above all, you need someone who thinks ahead of the game at all times, as a captain. That's why her absence or presence is so critical to the Aussie team. But then, having said that, isn't the time ripe for the World Champions to prove that they are not a one-player unit? After their 2017 semifinal loss to India in the ODI World Cup, it was Meg Lanning's captaincy which took them to titles in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023. So this is the first time in a long while that Australia will be without the services of one of their best ever captains. Do they have it in them to show to the world that it was a unit which won those titles and not just individual inspirations? We shall know soon.

PITCH REPORT - WV Raman is inspecting the surface. Observes that there is hardly any grass on it. Predicts that it will be drier and there will be turn for the spinners. Opines that the batters need to play sensible cricket and avoid big shots and playing across the line. But also feels that because one side of the ground is significantly shorter, a left-right combination could assist the batting team. Believes that 140 should be a par score on this wicket.

Indian captain, HARMANPREET KAUR, says that now India will aim to restrict Australia to a small total so that they can chase it down as quickly as possible. On India's plans for this game, Harman says that they have witnessed matches at this deck and have some plans which she hopes would be executed. On India being the last team to stop Australia's World Cup juggernaut in 2020, Kaur does not want to think about that for now and just wants to concentrate on playing good cricket. Informs that India have made one change, with Pooja Vastrakar coming in for Sajana Sajeevan.

Australian skipper, TAHLIA MCGRATH, says that they want to put some runs on the board and then try to defend the same. Feels lucky that they got to play a game at this venue before this clash and expects better adaptation from her team in this game. Understands that losing players in the middle of a big tournament is harmful but assures that the team is ready to deal with the situation with sufficient backups. Informs that Grace Harris and Darcie Brown come in for the injured Alyssa Healy and Tayla Vlaeminck tonight.

India Women (Playing XI) - Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar (IN FOR SAJANA SAJEEVAN), Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav (IN FOR ASHA SOBHANA) and Renuka Singh Thakur.

Australia Women (Playing XI) - Beth Mooney (WK), Grace Harris (IN FOR ALYSSA HEALY), Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (C), Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown (IN PLACE OF TAYLA VLAEMINCK).

TOSS - Time for the flip of the coin. Tails is the call from McGrath and it is a tail. AUSTRALIA WILL BAT FIRST.