LONDON (Reuters) – India were knocked out of the Women’s T20 World Cup after Australia’s Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner struck half-centuries to secure a six-wicket win at Lord’s on Sunday._x000D_
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Australia maintained their flawless record in the group stage, winning all five matches to finish top and advance to the semi-finals, chasing down India’s target of 171 with an over to spare._x000D_
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India had entered the match needing a victory to progress after South Africa boosted their own qualification chances with a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in a low-scoring game._x000D_
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Australia suffered an early setback when opener Georgia Voll fell to the second ball of the chase, but Perry and Gardner steadied the innings with a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket._x000D_
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Perry made 56 off 38 deliveries before being dismissed by Shree Charani, while Gardner remained unbeaten on 53 from 29 balls to guide the chase home._x000D_
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“We obviously got to see how India bat and knew it was a good wicket and just needed a good partnership,†Perry, who was named the player of the match, said._x000D_
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“Hopefully, two more big games to go. But focus will be on the semi-finals first.â€_x000D_
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No maiden T20 World Cup title for India_x000D_
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The result ended India’s hopes of securing their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title and completing a double after their triumph in the One-Day International World Cup last year._x000D_
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India had posted 170 for four, powered by captain Harmanpreet Kaurs blistering 56 off 27 balls, including three sixes and six fours._x000D_
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Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma provided a solid platform with a 66-run stand, but the middle order struggled to maintain momentum._x000D_
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Jemimah Rodrigues scored 34 off 28 balls before being retired out in the closing stages, and Harmanpreet accelerated to lift India to their highest total against Australia in a Women’s T20 World Cup match, though it proved insufficient._x000D_
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The defeat marked the second successive edition in which India had failed to reach the semi-finals, following their group-stage exit in 2024._x000D_
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Defending champions New Zealand were eliminated on Saturday after suffering a nine-wicket defeat by England._x000D_
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Australia will face the West Indies in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
