Team India faced a narrow defeat against Australia in their fourth match of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Playing at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 13, India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, struggled to chase down the target set by Australia, falling short by just nine runs. With this loss, India now has two wins and two losses in the tournament, currently standing in second place in their group.
Batting first, Australia posted a competitive total of 151 runs. In response, India managed to score 142 runs despite a promising start, failing to close out the game in a tense run chase. This defeat marked India’s second loss of the tournament, putting added pressure on the team as they aim to secure a semi-final spot.
**’They can make a plan and play according to a pitch and situation’ – Harmanpreet Kaur
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet Kaur praised the Australian side for their team effort and highlighted their wealth of experience in playing together. “They don’t have anything fixed. They can make a plan and play according to a pitch and situation. They aren’t dependent on one or two players, have plenty of all-rounders and the entire team contributes,” Harmanpreet said during the post-match presentation.
Reflecting on the critical difference between the two teams, Harmanpreet pointed to Australia’s ability to restrict India’s scoring opportunities. “I think the difference between them (and India) is that they didn’t give us easy runs. I think they have definitely the experience. They have played so many World Cups together. I think that is something that always shows them that they are a great side,” she added.
The Indian skipper also acknowledged that she and Deepti Sharma missed a few opportunities to capitalize on loose deliveries during their partnership. “I think we did really well (given the conditions). We knew this was a difficult tournament. When Deepti and I were batting, that time we were not able to utilise a few loose balls. We could have controlled the boundaries. I think we were still in the game. But then again, as we know their experience, they know how to win games like that. We have to learn from them,” Harmanpreet said.
Despite the defeat, India remains optimistic, looking to learn from these experiences as they head into their next crucial encounters in the tournament.
