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Australia Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
India and Australia locked horns in the first semifinal of the Women's 20-20 World Cup 2023 in Cape Town. The Aussies came into the game after winning four back-to-back games in the first round. On the other hand, India lost only former champions, England in the Group stage. Meanwhile, in the game, the Meg Lanning-led side won the toss and elected to bat first.
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The Aussies had a steady start, helped by the Women In Blue's poor fielding. For the first wicket, the likes of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney put together 52 runs for the first wicket. Radha Yadav got rid of Healy in the eighth over to provide one of the biggest breakthroughs for the team. On the other hand, Mooney scored another fifty against India before getting out to Shikha Pandey.
With skipper Lanning's (49) and Ashleigh Gardner's (31), the team reached a competitive 172/4. For the 2020 finalists, Shikha Pandey took two while Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma took one each.
So close, yet so so far for India
In reply, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had a horrendous start as they lost three wickets for 28 runs. However, the likes of Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues kept the scoreboard going and the team finished the powerplay at 59/3. The pair put together 71 runs for the fourth wicket. While they were batting, the required run rate was in control. Rodrigues scored 43 off just 24 balls before being caught behind by Healy.
Notably, had the right-hander left the ball, that would have been wide. However, Rodrigues got a little too much greedy and paid the price. Even after this wicket, the Women In Blue was in control with Kaur and Richa Ghosh batting at the crease. The former scored her first fifty of the tournament when it mattered the most. However, when she was run out in the 15th over, this became the turning point of the game. India lost three more wickets and lost the game by five runs.
This is how Twitter reacted
Very well played Girls,
β KARUNANKAR PRAJAPATI (@KKPRAJA29) February 23, 2023
Our fielding side costs us the Game today.#INDWvsAUSW#WTC2023
Difference between this is effort...
β Shravan (@shravan_001) February 23, 2023
See how stretch Dhoni's bat is.
And now see HP's bat .. it behind her body....
Is this the way u get runout...#INDWvsAUSW https://t.co/c0qW5XaGUf
Moodπ₯²π
β Narendra Thakur (@Narendra_o7) February 23, 2023
Ye dukh kahe khatam nhi hota be..π₯#INDWvsAUSW #T20WomensWorldCup pic.twitter.com/i4uf9YvE05
You feel for these girls. They gave it their all and especially the skipper battling ill health. But when it comes to Deepti, the power-hitting shows no improvement. This was gettable. Harman and Jemimah set it up. Deepti is playing for 10 yrs now. Ab nahi toh kab#INDWvsAUSW
β Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) February 23, 2023
But have to give credit where itβs due. The way @ImHarmanpreet and @JemiRodrigues batted so bravely and with so much intent in a World Cup semis was amazing to watch. The conviction in their eyes was a delight to watch!! #INDWvsAUSW #WomenInBlue
β Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) February 23, 2023
Winning ICC Trophies isn't as easy as my man made it look π₯²π₯²
β Bakri Player (@cric_nerd2) February 23, 2023
He won 3 of them in 6 years and now we're struggling to win even one
Miss you Thala π₯²ππ#INDWvsAUSW pic.twitter.com/knqe7G320V
A tough loss for @BCCIWomen against Australia in the #ICCWomensT20WorldCup, but we couldn't be prouder of our girls for their spirit on the field. The team gave it their all & showed that they are true warriors. We stand with you, Women in Blue! #INDWvsAUSW
β Jay Shah (@JayShah) February 23, 2023
They say this is the best Australian Cricket team ever. I feel, this AUSW team is very much beatable. You only need to grab the key moments in the game. We have seen this on multiple occasions.
β Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) February 23, 2023
The Australian men's team in the 2007 50-over World Cup was much harder to beat.
Harmanpreet Kaur : don't want my country to see my crying, hence I am wearing these glasses, I promise, we will improve and wont let out nation down like this again.
β Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) February 23, 2023
What a statement from the Champ.#INDWvsAUSW pic.twitter.com/FHbwGjNg2q
Indian Man cricket team to Indian woman cricket team :#INDWvsAUSW pic.twitter.com/ehUulmJIna
β Raghav Masoom (@comedibanda) February 23, 2023