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 semifinal 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 electing 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 semifinal of the tournament when India were 74-3 in 10.4 overs of their chase.
India need arch-rivals Pakistan to win their final group 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.
Ellyze 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.
Australia edge India to reach Women’s T20 World Cup semis
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Australia edge India to reach Women’s T20 World Cup semis
- If New Zealand win, they will take second place in Group A and reach the semifinal of the tournament
- Pakistan’s win will leave them, India and Kiwis all on four points and run-rate will decide who advances
Como boost Champions League bid with third straight win
- A third straight league victory for Cesc Fabregas’s side keeps the pressure on Roma
- Sixth-placed Juventus are now four points behind that pair ahead of their match against Pisa
MILAN: Captain Lucas Da Cunha scored a brilliant second-half winner as Como won 2-1 at Cagliari on Saturday to move level on points with fourth-placed Roma in Serie A.
A third straight league victory for Cesc Fabregas’s side keeps the pressure on Roma, who visit Genoa on Sunday, in the fight for Champions League qualification.
Como, who have never played in a European competition, will then host the capital club next weekend.
Sixth-placed Juventus are now four points behind that pair ahead of their match against Pisa later Saturday.
“I liked the way the lads reacted today, as this performance proves what the team is made of, they have a great mentality that is growing game by game,” Fabregas, whose side drew 0-0 with Serie A leaders Inter Milan in their Italian Cup semifinal first leg in midweek, told DAZN.
“We were all exhausted today, there were so many matches in a row, we were so tired.
“That is why this is the win I am most satisfied with this season. It is genuinely a major step forward for the team.”
Como took an early lead at Cagliari when Martin Baturina turned in Da Cunha’s mishit shot but the home side levelled 11 minutes after half-time through Sebastiano Esposito.
The visitors secured all three points, though, in the 76th minute, as Frenchman Da Cunha hammered a long-range strike into the top corner.
Seventh-placed Atalanta’s European hopes suffered a blow despite fighting back to grab a 2-2 home draw with Udinese.
Raffaele Palladino’s men, who host Bayern Munich in their Champions League last-16 first leg next week, are now five points behind Roma and Como.
Thomas Kristensen and Keinan Davis scored in either half to put Udinese in total control.
But Gianluca Scamacca’s header with 15 minutes to play halved the deficit and the Italy striker pounced on a rebound to level four minutes later.
