Australia in last four at Women’s T20 World Cup

SHARJAH, UAE (AP):

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten half-century went in vain as defending champions Australia took four wickets in the last over of the match and won by nine runs at the Women's T20 World Cup yesterday.

Australia advanced from Group A to the semifinals with the win. India's fate now depends on the outcome of the New Zealand versus Pakistan game today.

In the early match, Maia Bouchier smashed 62 not out off 34 balls as England crushed Scotland by 10 wickets with 10 overs remaining in their Group B clash.

Kaur took her team close to a successful chase with 54 not out off 47 balls. India started the final over at 138-5, needing 14 runs to win. Two run-outs and two wickets for Australia bowler Annabel Sutherland saw India finish their innings at 142-9.

Australia rode on vital middle-order runs from skipper Tahlia McGrath (32 runs in 26 balls) and Ellyse Perry (32 in 23) after opener Grace Harris hit a 41-ball 40 in a total of 151-8.

Australia finished top of their group, winning all four games.

India are currently second after two wins and two losses. Both India and New Zealand have four points each, two more than Pakistan.

A win for the Kiwis on Monday will see them through, a Pakistan win will make it a three-way fight for the final qualification spot.

Australia won the toss against India and opted to bat first and medium pacer Renuka Singh picked up 2-24 as India made it a tough start.

Singh accounted for Beth Mooney (2) and then trapped Georgia Wareham leg before for a first ball duck.

Harris resisted and put on 62 off nine overs faced for the third wicket with McGrath. Their partnership turned the game around for Australia, despite left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (1-14) providing the breakthrough when McGrath was out stumped.

Off spinner Deepti Sharma, who finished with 2-28, had Harris out caught in the 14th over.

India's chase faltered early on when left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux trapped Smriti Mandhana leg before wicket for six.

Shafali Verma was caught after a brisk 20 off 13 balls, including two fours and a six. Megan Schutt then dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues for 16 and India was down to 47-3 in 6.5 overs.

Kaur and Sharma put on 63 off 54 balls for the fourth wicket - Sharma contributed 29 runs. But the run-rate was creeping up, and Sharma was caught in the 16th over.

England's win moved them to the top of Group B with three successive wins in as many games.