Australia are via to the Ladies’s World Cup semi-finals after an exhilarating report run chase noticed them squeak previous India’s 7-277 in Auckland.
Beth Mooney produced last-over heroics and Meg Lanning led from the entrance, scoring an outstanding 97 to provide Australia a uncommon win on the All Blacks’ “home of ache”, Eden Park.
Australia appeared to have the duty in hand earlier than showers arrived to inject drama into the run chase and pausing their innings at 2-225, needing 53 runs from 54 balls to win.
With Lanning gone eight runs from victory, Mooney steadied the ship and noticed out a final over with Australia needing eight to win. Displaying class and metal, Mooney slammed two boundaries from the primary three deliveries as Australia accomplished the report chase, incomes a six-wicket win with three balls remaining.
The victory is Australia’s fifth straight in New Zealand, the place they want to recapture the trophy misplaced 5 years in the past in England.
Lanning gained the toss and opted to bowl in Auckland, hoping to benefit from the bouncy wicket. Teenage tempo star Darcie Brown obliged, taking 3-30 together with each openers within the first six overs.
India relied on a 130-run stand between Mithali Raj (68) and Yastika Bhatia (59) to construct their innings, earlier than Harmanpreet Kaur took flight late. The trio all tallied half-centuries, with Australia serving to them out via a scattergun assault.
Ellyse Perry was the worst offender as Australia gave away 24 runs from wides, their worst return of any World Cup innings. Handed the ball within the twelfth over, Perry acquired her line all flawed, bowling six particular person wides – together with one which went to the ropes – to the delight of the partisan crowd. Followers screamed ‘large’ with each run-up and launch as Perry went for 16 and was exiled from the assault by her captain.
Kaur (57 off 47) and Pooja Vastrakar (34 off 28) launched late however the rating seemed to be unders on the brief and sq. floor.
In reply, Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes fired from the get-go with 67 off the powerplay and a 121-run opening stand. When each fell an over aside, Lanning and Perry put collectively their very own century partnership, Perry falling for 28 simply after rain arrived to arrange the nerve-wracking end.
Tempo legend Jhulan Goswami heightened the strain with 5 dot balls within the forty eighth over, and steamed in for the final over. Mooney settled the matter and Australian nerves with two fours within the opening three balls, the final flying over a despairing Goswami’s head.
Defeating India ought to maintain particular resonance for Australia, as the one workforce to beat them within the final 35 ODIs and the facet that despatched them residence from the 2017 World Cup. The loss continues India’s boom-bust match and leaves them in a dogfight to make the ultimate 4.
With Australia (5-0) via and South Africa (4-0) within the field seat to comply with, there are areas for simply two extra groups.
West Indies (3-2) maintain their future in their very own fingers, whereas Cup holders England (1-3), India (2-3) and hosts New Zealand (2-3) additionally nonetheless harbour hopes of qualifying for the semis. England and New Zealand spherical out a marquee weekend at Eden Park on Sunday in a match that may nearly finish the semi-final goals of the loser.
Australia can spherical out the group stage with out stress in opposition to South Africa (Tuesday) and Bangladesh (Friday) in Wellington.
