Women's T20 WC: Harmanpreet's Fastest Fifty Powers India To 170/4 Vs Australia In A Must-win Clash

Womens T20 WC: Harmanpreets fastest fifty powers India to 170/4 vs Australia in a must-win clash (Image Source: IANS)

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a captain's knock with a scintillating half-century after Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid a solid platform, helping India post a competitive 170/4 against Australia in their final Group stage match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

After winning the toss, Harmanpreet opted to bat first. India began cautiously as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma took time to assess the conditions, managing just three runs from the opening over.

Once settled, Mandhana found her rhythm and took on Kim Garth, striking consecutive boundaries in the second over before adding another four in the next as India slowly built momentum.

Shafali, who had faced only a handful of deliveries early on, shifted gears in the fourth over by smashing Ashleigh Gardner for a six and a four. She continued the attack in the final over of the Power-play with another boundary as India reached a steady 43 without loss after six overs.

The opening pair ensured the scoring rate never dipped after the power play. Shafali continued to dominate Gardner, hitting a four and a six in the ninth over as the opening stand crossed the 60-run mark.

Australia finally found the breakthrough in the 10th over when captain Sophie Molineux clean bowled Shafali for a well-made 34 off 26 balls. Her aggressive innings, featuring three fours and two sixes, had given India a strong 66-run opening partnership.

Mandhana continued to anchor the innings while Jemimah Rodrigues started confidently with a boundary. However, a costly mix-up between the two batters brought an end to Mandhana's innings. Looking for a quick single, Mandhana set off, but Rodrigues, attempting a reverse sweep, did not respond in time. Mandhana was run out for 38 from 37 balls after striking six boundaries.

With India suddenly reduced by two quick wickets, Harmanpreet joined Jemimah and the pair rebuilt the innings with sensible batting. They rotated the strike effectively, kept the scoreboard moving, and brought up India's 100 in the 14th over.

After settling in, Harmanpreet switched to attack. She began with a boundary off Annabel Sutherland in the 15th over and maintained the pressure by finding the fence regularly while also converting singles into twos.

Jemimah also accelerated towards the end, smashing a six off Sutherland in the 19th over as India moved past the 150-run mark. Australia were untidy in the field during the closing stages, dropping Jemimah twice before India decided to retire her out for 34 off 28 balls, an innings that included a four and a six.

The final over belonged entirely to Harmanpreet. The India skipper launched three consecutive sixes to race to her half-century in just 25 balls before being dismissed on the very next delivery. Her explosive knock of 56 came off just 26 balls and included six fours and three sixes.

Jemimah also accelerated towards the end, smashing a six off Sutherland in the 19th over as India moved past the 150-run mark. Australia were untidy in the field during the closing stages, dropping Jemimah twice before India decided to retire her out for 34 off 28 balls, an innings that included a four and a six.

Brief Scores: India 170/4 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56, Smriti Mandhana 38, Shafali Verma 34; Sophie Molineux 2-46) against Australia

Article Source: IANS