Experienced Aussies end India's T20 World Cup hopes

“Australia have this in the bag” is what Laura Wolvaardt said in the post-match press conference after her South Africa side beat Bangladesh in a shaky win at Lord’s. Wolvaardt’s prediction, or hope, came to fruition as Australia secured a six wicket victory to knock India out of the T20 World Cup and put South Africa through to a semi-final.

Thousands of blue shirts filled up the stands as the morning game progressed. There was more interest from the patches of blue at the India players walking round the boundary to head to the nets, than the match in front of them.

India chose to target spinner Ash Gardner, pummelling her for 13 off her first over. The Aussies did well to keep India to 43-0 at the end of the powerplay but once again Gardner was punished, Shafali Verma taking on the spin.

This tournament has displayed plenty of examples of how not to run between the wickets. India demonstrated the latest blip with Smriti Mandhana run out by Georgia Wareham, Rodrigues attempting to reverse sweep but ball watching and signalling that she couldn’t hear the call from Mandhana.

It had been all too tentative with India 102/2 at the 14 over drinks break. Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur had to accelerate. Rodrigues was dropped on the boundary by Georgia Wareham, the delivery going for six in the penultimate over. It was just a taste of what was to come for Australia.

India exercised the choice to retire Rodrigues out on 34, despite having just struck a six. The controversial method brought Richa Ghosh to the crease in an attempt to boost the boundary striking in the final over. Ironically, Ghosh could only find a single, but skipper Kaur took it upon herself to cause damage at the death.

Kaur dispatched Aussie skipper Sophie Molineux for three consecutive sixes, the final shot flying through the hands of Phoebe Litchfield who looked horrified at her error. It was a mellow dismissal of Kaur in the end who had clubbed 56 from 27, frustrating Australia and helping India to conclude their innings 170/4.

Losing the momentum at the end of the innings, Australia had to carefully navigate the first few overs, Renuka Singh Thakur trapping Georgia Voll from the second ball, Kaur sprinting in to gesticulate and appeal right in front of the umpire.

Australia are not afraid to lose wickets and with Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield getting out in the 20s, the experience of Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner came in to steady the ship. With over 565 international caps between them, their quality and calmness seemed to tip things in Australia’s favour. A few strong overs after the halfway stage and Australia had well and truly grasped the game with both hands.

Bringing up her half century from a free hit, striking the ball down the ground for four in front of the pavilion, the equation became a run a ball. As Gardner and Perry reached their 100-run partnership, India looked utterly defeated. With an over to spare, the serial winners got over the line, Gardner finishing 53*.

India started digging their own grave at Old Trafford against South Africa but succumbed to the group of death at Lord’s.