Perry and Gardner Century Stand Sends Australia Past India into Semi-Finals at Lord's

The Story of the Match

INDIA were knocked out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup after Australia reached the Semi Finals with a convincing 6 wicket victory with 6 balls to spare, thanks to a brilliant 4th wicket partnership of 100 runs by Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner who led the way. Australia chased a record total to achieve a magnificent win. It was a disappointing end to the competition for India.

Ellyse Perry, one of the greatest to play the game, achieved her 50 from 33 balls with eight boundary 4's as she and Ash Gardner, who achieved her 50 from 29 balls with three boundary 6's and three boundary 4's, powered Australia to the semi-final. Perry was dismissed for 56 from 38 balls when the Australia total was 168 for 4 from 18.4 overs. The pair added 100 for the 4th wicket partnership. Gardner 53 not out from 29 balls was then joined by Georgia Wareham who hit the winning 4 runs at the end of the 19th over. It was a record chase by Australia to win a Women's World Cup T20 match.

India won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in a must win encounter at Lord's. India openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma started positively during the power play and the pair added 66 for the 1st wicket before Shafali Verma was bowled by Sophie Molineux for 34 runs from 26 balls with two boundary 6's and three boundary 4's. The second wicket fell at 83 for 2 from 11.3 overs when Smriti Mandhana was run out for 38 runs from 37 balls with six boundary 4's.

India then moved the total quickly to 147 for 3 from 19 overs with Harmanpreet Kaur the captain and Jemimah Rodrigues taking the Australian bowlers to task. Jemimah Rodrigues retired out for 34 from 28 balls with one boundary 6 and one boundary 4. Then at 166 for 4 from 19.5 overs Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 56 from 27 balls with three mammoth 6's and six boundary 4's. Richa Ghosh 1 not out and Deepti Sharma 4 not out were there when the innings closed on 170 for 4 from 20 overs. Sophie Molineux was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 46 of the seven bowlers used.

Australia needed 171 to win. Georgia Voll was first out, lbw to Renuka Singh for 4 when the total was 4 for 1 after 2 deliveries. Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield came together at the fall of the early wicket and the pair added 50 for the 2nd wicket when Phoebe Litchfield was out at 54 for 2. Australia needed 117 runs from 13 overs to win as Ellyse Perry came to the wicket. Beth Mooney was the third batter out when Australia reached 68 for 3 from 9.1 overs, caught by Yadav off Sharma for 22 runs from 20 balls with two boundary 4's.

From there Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner took control with their century stand, guiding Australia to a six wicket win with six balls to spare and knocking India out of the World Cup.

Australia play West Indies in the semi final at the Kia Oval on Tuesday.

Match Scores

Australia Women 172 for 4 from 19 overs (Perry 56, Gardner 53 not out, Mooney 22; Shree Charani 2 for 32) beat India Women 170 for 4 from 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56, Mandhana 38, Verma 34, Rodrigues 34; Molineux 2 for 46) by 6 wickets with 6 balls to spare.