IND-W vs AUS-W Ball by Ball Commentary

AUSTRALIA WIN! 15TH CONSECUTIVE TIME IN T20 WORLD CUPS! Sharjah has been silenced, which was lending a one-sided support for the Indian Women. Coming to the delivery, this is a length ball around middle and leg, Renuka heaves it along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single. And eventually, it all came down to the last delivery. Very fair to say, that the last-ball six from Phoebe Litchfield in the first innings, ultimately proved to be the difference in the end! AUSTRALIA WIN BY 9 RUNS.

OUT! LBW! A huge appeal for LBW and up goes the finger! The decision is challenged by Radha Yadav after consulting from her skipper, but fairly this one looks pretty straight to the naked eye. Annabel Sutherland sticks to the fuller length, at the stumps, Radha clears her front leg, and wildly swings at it, gets beaten comprehensively on the inside edge and is trapped on the front pad. UltraEdge shows no bat and the Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. A nervy final over from Annabel Sutherland, executed just about perfectly!

OUT! WIDE AND A RUN OUT! Full in length, but drifting down leg, slower ball, Patil swings her bat and misses, Mooney behind the stumps gathers the ball well. Kaur wants to steal a bye, but Shreyanka is ball-watching and does not look at her partner who is already more than halfway up for a single. Now, Shreyanka starts to run but is sent back. Harmanpreet frustratingly walks back to the non-striker's end with a disgruntled look on her face. Mooney in the meantime, runs forward to the stumps and realizes that Shreyanka's back leg is outside the popping crease. She dislodges the bail in a flash. Now, the question is whether Patil had some part of her boot behind the line. She tries to drag her feet behind the line but it gets stuck in the pitch. After several checks, the TV Umpire is assured that there's nothing behind the line. OUT IT IS!

Can't get it through, this is excellent bowling display by Sutherland! Almost a yorker on off, Harmanpreet Kaur drills it down to wide of mid off for a quick single. No room for the double there as the fielder is very quick to scoot on the ball. 12 from 2 now.

OUT! It is a run out but India will not mind. The skipper is back on strike. Almost a yorker, outside off, Arundhati Reddy gets underneath the ball and aims to go for a cover drive. The ball hits the toe end of the bat and lobs gently to mid off. Does not carry but because Reddy is on a knee, she takes some time to set off for the single. Harmanpreet has no doubts and has already set off. Phoebe Litchfield throws it to the bowler who does the rest.

OUT! BOWLED! Not the best of balls but Sutherland will take it. A high full toss, at the stumps, Pooja Vastrakar backs away and slashes hard, but misses. The ball goes beneath the bat and hits the stumps. A quickfire stand of 28 in 18 balls has been broken as Vastrakar departs for 9 (6). India Women are 139/6 and need another 13 from 4 balls.

Very full, around off, Harmanpreet Kaur drills it to long on for a single. 13 needed from 5 balls now.

Seeing Harmapreet shuffling outside off, Sophie Molineux cunningly flattens the trajectory and fires in full and just near the boot of the batter. Harmanpreet Kaur gets a thick inside edge to her boot as the ball rolls to the off side. A quick single taken. 14 required off 6 balls now. This is going all the way down to the wire!

FIFTY FOR HARMANPREET KAUR! Sophie Molineux now bowls it full and outside off, Kaur crouches a bit, and hits it over the covers. The fielder in the deep mops it up well and the batters scrape through for a couple. Harmanpreet Kaur hares back for the second and she is gasping for breath here.

FOUR! Nicely adjusted by Harmanpreet! Sophie Molineux fires it flat and wide of off, just near the tramline, Harmanpreet Kaur first looks to slog it away to the leg side but adjusts well to slice it over the infield over short third for a boundary.

Slower through the air, outside off, fractionally shorter than full, Pooja goes for the big hoick and mistimes it. Does not carry to deep mid-wicket. A single taken.

FOUR! BEAUTY! Insult to injury now. Flighted, outside off, Vastrakar gives herself room again on the leg side and drives it beautifully through the covers.

MISFIELD! Are the wheels coming off for the Aussies? Very full, around middle, Pooja Vastrakar gives herself room to the leg side and drives it straight to point. The fielder takes her eyes off the ball and what should have been a single, becomes a couple.

1 from the previous and 12 from this over! This is full and on the stumps, Pooja Vastrakar steers it behind square to deep square leg for a single to end the over. 4-0-32-1 for Ash Gardner.

A low full toss outside off, quicker at almost 102 kph, drilled down to long off by Harmanpreet Kaur for a single.

FOUR! Finds the gap, again! Ash Gardner provides just a little room outside off on a good length, Harmanpreet Kaur hangs back and cuts it past cover for a boundary. 30 required of the last 14 now.

FOUR! WHAM! Very full, outside off, Kaur gets down and carves it over a leaping Litchfield at cover. Moves to 40 (40).

A touch shorter, on middle, Pooja Vastrakar stays back and helps it through mid-wicket for a run.

Very full, around off, Harmanpreet Kaur sweeps it towards wide long on for a single. 39 more needed from 17 balls.

Missed by a margin there! It's getting nervy for India Women at the moment! It looked like Harmanpreet Kaur almost conceded on that run. Fuller and at the stumps, right in the blockhole yet again, Kaur digs it on the surface, and gets an inside edge on her front pad which rolls towards the point region and rushes for a single. Beth Mooney runs towards the ball, picks it up and throws it flat, but has a shy at the non-striker's end. Had it been a direct hit, it was curtains for the Indian skipper. But a sensational over from Megan Schutt. A wicket and just a single. India Women need 40 from 18 now.

Make that the fifth dot! Fired in full and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur mistimes it to mid off.

Fourth dot in this over so far! Top drawer from Megan Schutt. A well-directed yorker outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur is late to bring her bat down in time to squeeze it out. Phoebe Litchfield does well to block it off behind the wickets.

Full, around off, pushed back to the bowler.

OUT! RUN OUT! Excellent piece of fielding from Australia. Phoebe Litchfield is the fielder. Very full, around off, Ghosh drives it through the covers and sets off for a quick single. But she cannot pierce the gap and it has gone straight to the fielder. They still go through for the single and Litchfield takes aim. Has a shy at the bowler's end and hits the bulls' eye. Richa is nowhere in the frame. She departs for 1 (3) and Australia pick up 2 wickets for 1 run in 4 balls. India need another 41 from 22 balls.

Megan Schutt to bowl out now. Starts with a wide ball, on a length, outside off, pace off, Richa Ghosh throws her bat at it but cannot get it past cover.

Overpitched and outside off, Richa Ghosh drives it to the left of cover for a quick single. India Women need 41 off 23 balls now. A wicket from the over but 12 runs from it as well. Sophie Molineux has figures of 3-0-18-2 now.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN SAFELY! A huge, huge breakthrough for Australia Women! Sophie Molineux sticks to fire in the ball on a fuller length, on a flatter trajectory, around off, Deepti Sharma comes ahead a couple of steps and looks to take on the pace. She aerially lofts the ball but mistimes it badly as her head falls over. Hence, fails to generate the requisite power on the shot. It goes off the toe end of the bat and travels straight to Georgia Wareham at deep mid-wicket. She judges the catch perfectly, balances herself well just before the ropes, and takes a good overhead catch. Sophie Molineux breaks the 63 run-stand between Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur. Deepti Sharma departs for 29 (25) and India Women need another 42 from 25 balls.

FOUR! Now that is a nice shot! Sophie Molineux bowls it flat and quick, on the stumps, on a fullish length, Deepti Sharma gets inside the line of the ball and sweeps it behind the square, over the inner ring for a boundary at widish deep fine.

Full and straight, Kaur flicks it through square leg for a single.

FOUR! WHACK! The accelerator has been pressed on. Full, around middle, Harmanpreet Kaur goes leg side of the ball and hits it aerially through the covers. The fielder dives to her right but the ball goes through! These are ominous signs for the Australians. They have seen this before. 47 more needed from 28 balls!

Sophie Molineux returns. Starts with a short ball, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur rocks back and lofts it over cover. Two runs taken. 100 UP FOR INDIA WOMEN. 51 more needed from 29 balls.

FOUR! Cheeky! 50-STAND UP IN 49 BALLS! Georgia Wareham provides more air to this one, on the leg stump line, Deepti gets down on one knee, helps it on its way over short fine for a boundary to end the over. India Women need 53 from the last 5 overs remaining.

No damage done, excellent redemption by Georgia Wareham! Tossed up around off, Kaur steps down on track, stays leg side of the ball, and mistimes it down to long on for a single.

WHOA! Above-the-waist-height full toss on leg, Deepti Sharma pulls it somehow to deep square leg for a single. NO BALL! FREE HIT TO FOLLOW!

Very slow, full and around off, Deepti Sharma is months early in the sweep shot. Gets no bat on it, and the ball is deflected off her pads to the keeper.

Full, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur goes for the big slog sweep. Just about mistimes it and the ball lands just short of the fielder in the deep. A single taken.

Comes down the track, takes it on the full and works it through mid-wicket for a single.

The googly, outside leg, Deepti Sharma goes for the sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.

FOUR! Crucial boundary for India! A short ball, almost a bouncer outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets on top of the bounce and pulls it through mid-wicket. Ellyse Perry puts in a slow chase and dives after the ball is past her.

Landed outside off, Harmanpreet backs away and guides it straight to backward point.

Fourth straight long hop. Around middle, Deepti pulls it to deep mid-wicket for another single.

Another short ball, but this one skids through. Kaur looks to pull but mistimes it to long on for one.

Shorter and slower, on middle, Deepti Sharma goes for the pull but has to wait for an age for the ball to arrive. Somehow, manages to dab it through the leg side for a run.

Ash Gardner returns. Starts the over with a short ball, outside off, and it keeps low. Harmanpreet Kaur goes back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 69 more needed from 41 balls.

Around middle, Kaur goes for a big hit but mistimes it towards long on. Does not carry to the fielder. A single taken.

Full, outside off, Harmanpreet backs away to the leg side and drives powerfully through the covers. But Georgia Wareham in that position quickly gets across and puts in a quick save. Excellent fielding.

Slower ball, on a length, around middle, Sharma punches it towards point and takes a quick single.

Outside off, on a good length, Deepti Sharma looks to run it down to deep third but misses.

A high full toss, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur pulls it through mid-wicket. Nearly finds the boundary but Ellyse Perry races to her right in the deep and somehow manages to half-stop it. Luckily for her, the ball does not roll back into the ropes. Just a single.

Outside off, dabbed straight to point.

Quicker leg break on middle, short in length, Kaur goes back to pull but the ball skids onto the bat and she is cramped for room. Mistimes it to long on for one.

Tossed up, outside off, Kaur drives it to the left of the bowler.

Short, outside off, punched straight to point.

A flat ball, pulled through mid-wicket for one.

DROPPED! Should have been taken by Australian standards. Full toss, around leg stump, Harmanpreet Kaur looks to play the slog sweep. She does not quite connect it well and the ball flies towards deep square leg. Darcie Brown comes charging in, gets to the ball and the catch by diving but cannot hang on. A run taken.

Comes down the track and swings it to deep square leg for a single.

Around off, punched back to the bowler.

Another short ball, around middle, Deepti pulls it through mid-wicket for one.

Around off, dabbed through point for a run.

FOUR! A boundary after 16 balls! A short ball, around off, Harmanpreet Kaur is prepared for it and pulls it behind square leg. 79 more needed from 57 balls.

A touch short now, around middle, extra pace, Deepti Sharma pulls it calmly through mid-wicket for a run.

On a good length, around middle, Harmanpreet Kaur tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Full, on middle and leg, chipped down the ground, towards long on for one.

Quicker ball, in line of the stumps, Harmanpreet goes back and cuts hard, but finds short third.

Fuller, on middle and leg, Deepti sweeps it fine for a run.

NEARLY! Once again, Kaur goes for the paddle and Beth Mooney, the keeper, anticipating well, quickly moves to her left. But the ball whizzes past her, to fine leg. Another single.

Full, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down to play the paddle scoop again. She plays too early, the ball holds up in the surface and comes late. The ball takes the top edge and lobs towards short third. Deepti wants the single but Harman is searching for the ball, hence sends her back. Replay shows that the ball hit the fitness watch worn by Harman on her right hand. She takes it off to check whether it is working and it is.

A touch short, around middle, going down, Deepti Sharma helps it through square leg for a single.

DROPPED! Sophie Molineux this time. Back of the hand slower ball from Sutherland, lands short of a length outside off and kicks off, but slowly. Deepti is already into her attempted punch and can only spoon it off the top edge. The ball flies in the air and Molineux flies too, from point, to her right. Stretches her right hand, takes the catch, but the ball pops out. A run taken.

Around off, tucked through square leg for one more.

IN THE AIR... JUST WIDE! A length ball, around leg, Sharma works it through mid-wicket, a bit uppishly. Grace Harris dives to her right but the ball gets past her dive, towards long on. Another single.

Full and wide outside off, once again, Kaur repeats the stroke she played on the first ball of this over. This time though, she has to fetch it a bit, but still gets it away to fine leg, with a paddle. One run taken.

Very full, on middle, Deepti Sharma jams it through mid-wicket for a run.

Annabel Sutherland is back on. Starts this over with a full ball outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down and gently paddles it towards fine leg for a single.

Risky run but Deepti Sharma is safe in the end. First of all, a risky shot as well. It is a googly from Wareham and Harmanpreet takes it from the off stump, getting the bat down just in time to play the ball towards point. The batters decide to go for the quick single and there is a direct hit at the striker's end. It is referred upstairs and the replay shows that Deepti dived in and when the ball hit the stumps, the bat was well inside the crease.

WIDE. Full and down the leg side, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down to sweep but misses.

On middle and leg, Deepti helps it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Lucky but India will take it. Fractionally short, outside leg, Deepti Sharma goes for the pull but the ball bounces a shade extra, takes the top edge and flies over the keeper. Grace Harris cannot catch up with it from short fine leg.

Slow and full on leg, Deepti Sharma squats and pulls it straight to square leg.

Nice and full on off, Harmanpreet Kaur works it down to long off for an easy single.

Full toss on the stumps, Deepti Sharma mistimes the pull towards deep square leg for only a single.

A low full toss on the stumps, Deepti flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single

OUT! IN THE AIR...AND TAKEN! Ash Gardner is not dropping those at all! Australia Women wrestling hard and are right on the top of their opponents at this point. Megan Schutt bangs it into the surface, in the line of the middle stump, it lands, bounces more off the deck and gets big on the batter. Jemimah Rodrigues prepares herself for the pull shot and mistimes it aerially. Doesn't get a proper bat on it and it flies only as far as Ash Gardner at deep mid-wicket. Gardner runs forward and takes a good diving catch to her front. Jemimah Rodrigues is kicking herself and is livid with that shot. India Women are 3 down now! Losing the momentum here.

Pitched full, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur paddles it very fine for a single at deep fine.

Fired in fuller and on middle and leg, Jemimah Rodrigues sits down and accesses the leg side for a single at deep backward square leg.

FOUR! That's nicely played by Jemimah Rodrigues! Megan bangs a shorter one, on middle, Jemimah Rodrigues rises up with the bounce and pulls it over mid-wicket, gets a boundary at the vacant deep mid-wicket region.

Fuller and outside off, Jemimah shuffles and goes for the paddle but misses. Wears it on the front pad.

Sophie Molineux darts it in on a length, in front of the sticks, blocked off somehow by Harmanpreet Kaur. India Women, after end of the Powerplay, are 41/2. Need 111 more from 84 balls remaining.

This is an arm ball, on the middle, Jemimah Rodrigues squats at it and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball lands safe on the bounce and is picked up by the deep mid-wicket fielder. A single taken.

OOOHHH! A lot of grip there! Length on the stumps, with some turn away from the batter, Jemimah gets squared up as she fends it onto the pitch.

Quick run there! Length, on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur works it to the leg side and hares to the other end.

Full outside off, Kaur pushes it to covers.

A huge appeal for LBW but not given as Out. Australia Women go upstairs instantly to challenge the on-field decision. Sophie Molineux starts her spell from over the wickets, and lands a good-length delivery on the off stump line. It grips and turns into the batter. Also, stays a bit low and skids on quickly towards the batter. Smriti Mandhana is cramped up for room and is hurried into the shot to work it across to the leg side. Ends up playing all over it and gets a ping on the front pad. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is crashing into the leg stump on the projection. A sedate start for Smriti Mandhana comes to an end as the Indian vice-captain departs on 6 (12). India Women are 39/2 in 5.1 overs.

FOUR! Down the ground again, and four more! Lands a genuine half-volley on middle, does Annabel Sutherland. Jemimah Rodrigues clears her front leg to create room and lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary downtown. The ball dribbles on a couple of bounces and runs into the fence.

FOUR! Good shot! Pitched up, outside off, Jemimah Rodrigues makes use of her feet, walks a couple of steps ahead and drills it over mid off for a boundary.

A half-tracker outside off, Jemimah punches it off the backfoot to cover point.

Good length and outside off, Mandhana drives it on the up to sweeper covers for a single.

Pitched up around off, Mandhana drives it to mid off.

Fuller one, and around off, Jemimah walks well across and comes down the track and looks to flick it but misses. Gets rapped on the pads before the ball rolls near the strip. McGrath chats with her teammates and opts for a review. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved and the Ball Tracking shows the impact outside off.

Short and turning in on leg, Jemimah pulls it towards deep backward square leg for a single.

Nice and tossed up full, on off, Smriti Mandhana drives it through covers for a single.

Good length, on middle, glanced away to behind square for a single.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Australia Women get their first breakthrough and Ash Gardner provides the pricy wicket of Shafali Verma! Ash Gardner fractionally pulls her length, not too short and not too full, on off and middle, Shafali Verma premeditates and sits down on her knee to slog it across. It skids and comes on quickly and hence, Verma mistimes her shot. She doesn't quite hit it from the sweet spot and it goes flat and straight down the throat of Annabel Sutherland stationed at long on. She takes an easy catch yards inside the ropes.

Had to hurry there! Good length, around off, Smriti Mandhana crunches the cut shot to cover-point and takes a risky single.

Slow and on a good length, spins away from the batter, Smriti Mandhana negotiates it well and taps it near the strip.

SIX! BANG! Megan Schutt hurls it full and keeps the line of attack on the off stump, Shafali Verma gets her bat underneath the ball and lofts it over long off for a six to end the third over. India Women are 25/0.

Nicely bowled and a good piece of wicket-keeping by Phoebe Litchfield there! A quicker yorker outside off, Shafali Verma misses to slash it away and Phoebe Litchfield does well to collect it sharply behind the pegs.

Takes the pace off on a good length, pushed to the right of the bowler.

FOUR! Good timing on that one! Very full on off, a leg-cutter, Shafali Verma clears her front foot and drills it down for a boundary to the right of long off.

Almost chopped on! On a good length, skidding through quickly on the batter, Shafali Verma is on the back foot and tries to hit it to the off side, ends up inside edging it on the pads.

Nice and full, on off, Verma pushes it back to the bowler.

Way down leg, flat and quick, on a good length, Smriti Mandhana misses to glance it away and the keeper too fails to collect it cleanly. The ball ricochets off her gloves and runs to deep fine. They cross.

FOUR! Nice shot! Much fuller, almost a half-volley from Ash Gardner. On middle, Shafali Verma sits on her knee and slogs it over the inner ring, gets a boundary at deep mid-wicket.

Tossed up, pushed through on off, Smriti Mandhana hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Quicker, flatter, and fuller on the stumps, Mandhana nudges it to mid-wicket.

In front of the stumps, on middle, Smriti Mandhana plays it across to the leg side but finds the fielder at square leg.

Short and turning in on the stumps, Shafali punches it towards long on for a single.

DROPPED AT COVERS! Length ball, on the stumps, Shafali Verma moves to create room but chips it straight to Megan Schutt at covers who spills and parries the ball to the deep. Allows a couple of runs.

Lovely shot. Overpitched, outside off, Mandhana leans and drives it between cover and mid off.

Landed around middle, Mandhana tries to play the reverse scoop but misses. The keeper for tonight, Beth Mooney, is blinded and fumbles. Mandhana looks for the bye but short third gets across quickly and Mandhana is sent back.

On a good length, around middle, Smriti Mandhana defends it back to the bowler.

Short of a good length, on the top of the middle, Shafali Verma hangs back and drills it to long on for a single.

Back of a length around off, Shafali punches it off the back foot to mid off.

Intent first up! Good length and outside off, Shafali lifts it over mid on but doesn't time it well, and only manages to clear the fielder in the ring, and gets off the mark with a couple of runs.