| India 277-7 (50 overs): Raj 68, Yastika 59, Harmanpreet 57* |
| Australia 280-4 (49.3 overs): Lanning 97, Healy 72 |
| Australia won by six wickets |
| Scorecard. Table |
Australia beat India to reach the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup.
After half-centuries by Mithali Raj, India reached a score of 277-7.
Meg Lanning was out for 97 in the last over.
Australia needed eight from the final over to win, only for Beth Mooney to seal the victory with three balls left.
It meant Australia bettered the 258 they overhauled against Sri Lanka at the World Cup, while also posting the third-best chase in all women's one-day internationals.
Their fifth win of the tournament takes them two points clear of South Africa at the top of the table and guarantees a place in the last four.
India will need to win their last two matches against Bangladesh and South Africa to have a chance of progressing.
In front of a loud and partisan crowd, the runners-up looked to be pressurising Australia in front of them.
The true surface and rectangular dimensions of the ground posed problems for the bowling and fielding captains, with Raj, who made 68, and Yastika, 59, taking advantage in a partnership of 130.
When India was struggling at 213-6 at the beginning of the 43rd over, Harmanpreet plundered 57 from 47 balls, adding 64 with Pooja Vastrakar in a magnificent stand for the 7th place.
The intent of the opening pair of Healy and Haynes was to steal the momentum from India.
Lanning and Ellyse Perry were in complete control during their partnership of 103, even though Australia lost two of their own for two runs.
The progress of Australia was checked by a rain delay.
Lanning found a willing ally in left-handed Mooney as the required rate briefly deviated out to more than a run-a-ball.
Lanning looked to be reaching her 15th one-day century with another cut, only to find the hands of Vastrakar at point.
With the India fans believing again and veteran seamer Jhulan Goswami bowling the final over, Mooney retained her composure.
She hit Goswami back over her head for the winning boundary after taking advantage of a mis-field to pinch two.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
