The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India Women’s home schedule for the 2024/25 season. India Women will host West Indies Women and Ireland Women in the ongoing season. 

After completing their tour in Australia, where India Women will play a three-match WODI series against the hosts in early December, India Women will host West Indies Women in a three-match WT20I series and then a three-match WODI series. 

While Navi Mumbai will host all the WT20I matches on nights, Vadodara will host all the WODIs against West Indies Women, including the first two day/night matches before the day fixture for the third WODI. All these matches will be played in the second half of December. 

On the other hand, India will also host Ireland Women for a three-match WODI series in January 2025. Rajkot will host these matches as the day fixtures. 

Both the home WODI series will be part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women’s Championship.

India Women’s home schedule for the 2024/25 season

West Indies Women’s tour of India

(Three-match WT20I series at Navi Mumbai)

1st WT20I (Night): December 15, 2024

2nd WT20I (Night): December 17, 2024

3rd WT20I (Night): December 19, 2024

(Three-match WODI series at Vadodara)

1st WODI (Day/Night): December 22, 2024

2nd WODI (Day/Night): December 24, 2024

3rd WODI (Day): December 27, 2024

Ireland Women's tour of India

(Three-match WODI series at Rajkot)

1st WODI (Day): January 10, 2025

2nd WODI (Day): January 12, 2025

3rd WODI (Day): January 15, 2025

In a thrilling finale at Ahmedabad, India Women clinched the ODI series 2-1 against New Zealand with a resounding 6-wicket victory. Winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat but struggled to gain momentum, with the Indian bowlers striking early to leave the visitors at a precarious 88/5. Georgia Plimmer held on with a modest 39, but it was Brooke Halliday’s resilience that defined New Zealand’s innings. Battling the heat, Halliday smashed a career-best 86 off 96 balls, reviving the innings alongside Isabella Gaze (25) in a crucial 64-run stand for the sixth wicket. Late fireworks from Lea Tahuhu (24* off 14) pushed New Zealand’s total to 232 before they were bowled out in 49.5 overs, with Deepti Sharma starring for India with figures of 3/39.

India’s chase was built on a classy century from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored a commanding 100 off 122 balls. Despite losing Shafali Verma early, Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia added 76 for the second wicket, laying a solid foundation. Mandhana then combined forces with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur in a 117-run stand, showcasing her experience and registering her 8th ODI ton. Though Mandhana fell after her century, Kaur remained steady, steering the team home with an unbeaten 59. Jemimah Rodrigues’s quick cameo added finishing touches, sealing India’s victory in the 45th over and completing a memorable series win.

See Also: In what ways has Rohit Sharma's form in Test cricket fluctuated over recent series?

Breakdown of Smriti Mandhana's Century 

In the third ODI match against New Zealand, Smriti Mandhana showcased her adaptability and prowess against varied bowling attacks, leading India’s successful chase with a match-winning performance. Facing a mixture of left-arm orthodox, right-arm medium, and right-arm offbreak bowlers, Mandhana’s innings reflected her tactical adjustments to each style. Her calculated approach and range of shots made her the backbone of India’s chase, setting up the win that sealed the ODI series.

Mandhana started steadily against the left-arm orthodox bowlers, collecting 18 runs from 20 balls at a strike rate of 90. Though she didn’t hit any half-centuries or boundaries in this phase, she still found gaps for singles and doubles, showing her footwork and timing against spin. With 40% dot balls, she maintained a watchful approach while ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking, allowing her to build a foundation early in the innings.

The most significant portion of her runs came against the right-arm medium bowlers, where she truly dominated. She scored 65 off 66 balls, striking at 98.5, with eight boundaries to her name. This phase saw Mandhana shift gears, capitalizing on the pace and using her powerful drives to find the fence consistently. Even though she lost her wicket twice to the medium-pacers, she ensured that India remained in a strong position, and her sole half-century of the innings highlighted her control over this bowling style.

Against the right-arm offbreak bowlers, Mandhana demonstrated a more conservative approach, scoring 25 off 42 balls at a strike rate of 59.5. With 50% dot balls, she carefully maneuvered around spin, focusing on preserving her wicket and rotating the strike. This phase of her innings reflected her maturity, as she balanced aggression with caution to avoid unnecessary risks, aware of the need to anchor India’s chase.

By the time Mandhana was dismissed, she had already laid a solid platform, leaving minimal work for the lower order. Her ability to handle different bowling types with both caution and aggression underscored her experience and value as a top-order batter. This well-crafted knock not only earned her personal accolades but also secured India’s series win, with Mandhana further establishing herself as a dependable finisher in crucial matches.

See Also: Sydney Sixers Edge Past Melbourne Renegades with Ellyse Perry's Match-Winning Knock

In the series decider of the three-match WODI series between India Women and New Zealand Women, Brooke Halliday’s fighting innings rescued the visitors as they set a challenging target for the hosts India Women. 

At the level position of the series (1-1), New Zealand Women captain Sophie Devine chose to bat first at Ahmedabad. The visitors scored 232 all out in 49.5 overs. 

Top batters lost wickets cheaply

Three of the first four batters were dismissed cheaply as New Zealand Women were battling at 39/3 in the 11th over. Opener Suzie Bates (4), Lauren Down (1), and skipper Devine (9) failed to reach the double-digit scores. 

Plimmer and Halliday handled the early pressure

In-form opener Georgia Plimmer then set up a 30-run partnership for the fourth wicket. After Plimmer was dismissed by Priya Mishra, Maddy Green (15) lost her wicket cheaply through a run-out. 

Halliday inspired the White Ferns

For the sixth wicket, Halliday had a crucial 64-run partnership with the wicketkeeper-batter Isabella Gaze. Deepti Sharma’s caught and bowled sent Gaze (25) back to the pavilion, while Plimmer scored a 72-ball 50. 

With Hannah Rowe, Halliday secured another crucial 47-run partnership for the seventh wicket. After her half-century, the left-handed middle-order batter scored aggressively. With the help of nine fours and three sixes, Halliday scored 86 off 96 balls before Deepti Sharma dismissed her.

Lea Tahuhu had a useful cameo with 24 not out in 14 balls with two fours and one six.

Among the Indian bowlers, Deepti Sharma (3/39) took three wickets, while Priya Mishra (2/41) got two wickets. Also, Renuka Singh (1/49) and Saima Thakor (1/44) picked up one wicket each. 

Although the hosts India Women suffered a big defeat against New Zealand Women in the second WODI match of the three-match series, Radhav Yadav’s all-round performances impressed the Indian cricket fans. During that game, she created a new record that none of the other players recorded in the WODI history.

Trailing the series by 1-0, New Zealand Women captain Sophie Devine chose to bat first at Ahmedabad. After the openers provided a good start with an 87-run partnership between Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, captain Sophie Devine played an important innings. While Bates scored 58, Plimmer scored 41 runs.

In the middle-order, while Maddy Green scored 42 runs, skipper Devine scored 79 off 86 balls with seven fours and one six. Their batting helped New Zealand Women score 259/9 in 50 overs.

Radha Yadav took crucial wickets with the ball

Among the Indian bowlers, Radha Yadav was the best, as the left-arm spinner had bowling figures of 10-0-69-4. She took the crucial wickets of Bates, Green, and Devine before dismissing Lea Tahuhu (0).

Radha Yadav stunned with her great catches

Apart from her bowling, Radha also had a significant contribution with her fielding, as she took three catches, including two incredible and unforgettable catches. 

Catch it like Radha Yadav 😎

What a grab to get the opening wicket!

Georgia Plimmer departs as Deepti Sharma strikes ⚡️

Live - https://t.co/2sqq9BtvjZ#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @Radhay_21 | @Deepti_Sharma06 pic.twitter.com/DCIcUr0Yqj

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 27, 2024

𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙙𝙝𝙖 𝙔𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙫 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡! 🤩

This time she runs all the way back and successfully takes a skier 👏👏

Maiden international wicket for Priya Mishra as Brooke Halliday departs.

Live - https://t.co/2sqq9BtvjZ#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/nFbs7wTqZ6

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 27, 2024

📸📸 Catching excellence snapped ft. Radha Yadav 💯

Live - https://t.co/2sqq9BtvjZ#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @Radhay_21 pic.twitter.com/bzQ4c6WyRx

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 27, 2024

Radha Yadav scored the highest runs in India Women innings

In reply, once again, the Indian top-order batters struggled. Although most got starts, they failed to convert those into good scores. India Women were once struggling at the hopeless position of 108/8. Once again, Radha Yadav played an important role as she had a 70-run partnership with Saima Thakor.

While India Women were all out for 183 runs and lost by 76 runs, Radha and Saima were the top two scorers of that innings. While Radha scored 48 runs, Saima scored 29 runs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (24) was the other Indian to reach the 20-run mark in that innings.

The White Ferns captain Sophie Devine once again shined in that innings as she was the best bowler for her team with the bowling figures of 7.1-0-27-3. Lea Tahuhu (3/42) was the other bowler to claim three wickets in that innings. 

Although India Women lost the match, Radha Yadav became the first cricketer in WODI history to score at least 40 runs, pick up at least four wickets, and take a minimum of three catches in a WODI match.

Talking about scoring 30 runs, picking up three wickets, and taking three catches in the same WODI match, Radha became the second player. New Zealand cricketer Suzie Bates was the first player in this record book with 82 runs, three wickets, and three catches against England Women at Taunton in August 2007.  

India’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE was riddled with challenges, one of the most notable being the underwhelming performance of vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. Known for her elegance at the crease and often touted as India's best batter, much was expected from her in this crucial tournament. However, Mandhana failed to deliver, managing only 75 runs across four innings, with an average of 18.75 and a strike rate of 94.93. These figures were far below her usual standards, and fans were left disappointed. Her sole bright spot came in the form of a fifty against Sri Lanka, which was her only significant contribution. In the other matches, she struggled to find rhythm, falling short of expectations, and could not anchor India’s innings when it mattered most.

What made her struggles even more concerning was her consistent vulnerability against spin. Leading up to the World Cup, Mandhana had shown signs of trouble in the warm-up matches, where she was dismissed cheaply by spinners in both games. Unfortunately, the pattern persisted in the tournament itself, where spinners accounted for three of her four dismissals, and she was also run out once. As a key player for India, her inability to navigate spin bowling was a major factor in the team’s overall batting woes, raising questions about her preparation and form.

See Also: What led to India Women's early exit in the T20 world cup 2024?

Smriti Mandhana’s Wake-Up Call in T20 World Cup 2024

Smriti Mandhana’s performance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 revealed a series of struggles that defined India’s campaign. Starting as a key player and vice-captain, expectations were high for the experienced opener to lead India’s charge. However, her performances fell well below her usual standards. In four matches, her overall contribution was limited to 75 runs, with a mixed bag of strike rates across different stages of her innings. This tournament exposed significant gaps in her ability to build and accelerate innings, particularly against spin, which played a role in her downfall.

Against New Zealand, Mandhana started relatively well, scoring 11 runs in the first 10 balls at a strike rate of 110, showcasing some intent. However, her ability to build on that momentum faltered, as she managed just 1 more run in the next 10 balls, with her strike rate plummeting to 50. Her early dismissal put India on the back foot, a trend that persisted throughout the tournament. She failed to capitalize on the powerplay, leaving her teammates to shoulder the burden of run-scoring.

Her struggles were even more evident in the game against Pakistan. Mandhana’s start was cautious, as she scored 6 runs in 10 balls at a strike rate of 60. However, her inability to rotate the strike and find boundaries after this start hurt India. In the next 10-ball phase, she could only add 1 run, dropping her strike rate drastically to 16.67. This failure to push the scoring rate or anchor the innings became a recurring issue, as Mandhana fell short of providing the platform India desperately needed.

The match against Sri Lanka offered a brief glimpse of Mandhana’s usual prowess. After scoring 6 runs in the first 10 balls at a modest strike rate of 60, she picked up the pace in the next phase. She added 20 runs at an impressive strike rate of 200, signaling a return to form. However, this was not the end of her contribution—Mandhana managed to score 24 more runs beyond the 20-ball mark, finishing with a strike rate of 133.33. Despite this strong knock, her performance was a lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster tournament.

In the final match against Australia, Mandhana's struggles resurfaced. She managed just 5 runs in the first 10 balls at a strike rate of 50. Once again, her innings ended prematurely, leaving India without a solid start. This match epitomized her tournament woes—trouble against quality bowling, lack of fluency, and vulnerability to spinners, who accounted for most of her dismissals in the World Cup.

Overall, Mandhana’s performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup highlighted key areas of concern. While she showed sparks of brilliance against Sri Lanka, her inability to rotate strike, accelerate consistently, and handle spin left India in difficult positions. Her form slump was one of the major reasons behind India’s struggles, raising questions about her preparation and adaptability in pressure situations.

See Also: A Breakdown of India’s Stellar Batting Performance

India Women just had a disappointing journey in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Now, the team India is set for the three-match home WODI series against New Zealand Women. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 16-member full squad for the upcoming home WODI series.

Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host all three WODIs between India Women and New Zealand Women on October 24, 27, and 29. This series is a part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women’s Championship, where India Women are in fifth place and New Zealand Women are in sixth position. However, India Women have already secured their place for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 as the hosts, while New Zealand Women are still in the battle to secure their place for the upcoming WODI World Cup.    

On Thursday (October 17), the Women’s Selection Committee picked up the 16-member India Women’s squad for the upcoming home WODI series. 

Richa Ghosh will miss this series due to exam

Due to the class 12 board exams, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh will be unavailable for the upcoming home WODI series. 

Four maiden call-ups

Pace bowling allrounders Sayali Satghare and Saima Thakor, legspinner Priya Mishra, and middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis have earned their maiden call-ups in the India Women’s squad. 

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is under pressure

While Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership is now in question, she is ready to continue her leadership of the Indian team in the forthcoming home series. Just recently, India Women completed their journey in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United Arab Emirates, where they failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing in the third position in the Group A points table.  

India Women's full squad for the upcoming home WODI series against New Zealand Women

Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Sayali Satgare, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil.

Former India Women’s captain Mithali Raj is unhappy with the Indian Women's performances in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United Arab Emirates. 

Harmanpreet Kaur-led India Women disappointed in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they finished in the third place of Group A with four points after four matches. They ultimately failed to qualify for the semifinals. 

India Women started the tournament with a massive 58-run defeat against New Zealand Women. While the White Ferns scored 160 runs, India Women only managed to score 102 runs. 

Although India Women comfortably beat Pakistan Women and Sri Lanka Women by six wickets and 82 runs, respectively, they suffered a close nine-run defeat against the six-time champions Australia Women.

Since 2016, Harmanpreet Kaur has been leading the Indian team. While she has already led India Women in four Women’s T20 World Cups, the latest tournament has seen the worst performances. In three previous tournaments, India Women qualified at least for the semifinals, including finishing as the runners-up in the 2020 edition. 

I would go for a young captain: Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj feels that the Indian team needs a young captain, and it is the right time to change the leadership.  

Raj told PTI, "If the selectors decide to change, I would go for a young captain. This is the time [to change]; if you delay more then we have another [ODI] World Cup on the horizon [October 2025]. If you are not doing it now, then don't do it later. Then it is too close to the World Cup.

Smriti Mandhana has been playing the vice-captain role since 2016. However, Raj feels that Jemimah Rodrigues will be a better captaincy option due to her young age. The former India Women’s captain is very impressed with the 24-year-old middle-order batter. 

Raj said, "Smriti is there but I think someone like Jemimah [Rodrigues], she's 24, she's young, she will serve you more. And [she] is someone who I feel on the field gets that energy. She speaks to everybody. I was very impressed by her in this tournament.”

While Kaur was the leading run-scorer for India Women in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup with 150 runs in four innings, including two half-centuries, Rodrigues played some cameo roles with the bat. 

Raj continued her support for Rodrigues, "Despite playing those cameo roles, she never could convert her starts, but [she is] someone who really made an effort to build a momentum if there was no momentum; and if there was momentum, she tried to carry that momentum [forward]."

We were not quick enough to adjust

While the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup has been playing on slow pitches in the United Arab Emirates, Raj blamed India’s failure to adjust the conditions. 

Raj claimed, "Surprisingly, we took time to adjust to the slowness of the wicket. Unlike an ODI World Cup, it is a short tournament, you don't have a lot of time to adjust to the conditions. Someone like [New Zealand captain] Sophie Devine was able to score that many runs [57 not out] against us and she is not used to playing on slow tracks. We were not quick enough to adjust."

I've not really seen any growth in this team: Mithali Raj

Raj is also disappointed with the slow growth in Indian women’s cricket in recent years. 

The former Indian captain said, "I feel that in the last two-three years, I've not really seen any growth in this team. In the sense, like, I mean, beating the best side is what you always prepare for, but it seems like we are saturated in the sense we are beating other teams, and we are pretty happy in that. Every other team has shown growth despite limited depth, a case in point being South Africa. We have not."

Raj believed that India should experiment with the bench against the lower-ranked teams in the recent Asia Cup. Talking about it, she brought up the example of the Indian men’s team process. 

Raj continued, "It didn't seem like it was anywhere closer to... what we got to see in the World Cup. We could have given more opportunities to the bench against lower-ranked teams in Asia Cup, but we didn't. Why does the men's team do well? Immediately after a big series or a big tournament, they try others. If we are talking about depth, then when are we giving them chances?"

India Women's journey in the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup has come to an unfortunate end, as they officially exited the tournament after securing two wins and two losses. In a competitive group stage, India managed victories against Pakistan and Sri Lanka but faltered in their crucial encounters against New Zealand and Australia. With a total of 4 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 0.322, their campaign fell short of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Harmanpreet Kaur stood out with the bat, amassing 150 runs, while Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh made their mark with the ball, finishing as India’s top wicket-takers.

Despite the early exit, the team showcased moments of brilliance, particularly in their emphatic wins against their Asian rivals. Harmanpreet Kaur's consistent form and leadership were pivotal, providing stability at crucial stages. However, the losses to stronger sides like Australia and New Zealand exposed gaps in India's overall performance, especially in handling pressure situations. As the team reflects on their campaign, they will undoubtedly look to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses for future tournaments.

See Also: A Breakdown of India’s Stellar Batting Performance

India Women's Powerplay Struggles in the T20 World Cup

India Women’s performance in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup's powerplay was marked by inconsistency. In the first three overs, they started well, losing just 1 wicket with a strong average of 66. However, as the powerplay progressed into overs 4-6, their form drastically declined. They lost 5 wickets during this period, and their average dropped to 13.6. This sharp contrast in performance between the early and later part of the powerplay reveals that while India’s opening batters managed to provide stability, the middle order crumbled under pressure.

In comparison, Australia Women faced early setbacks but handled them with far greater composure. Losing 4 wickets in the first three overs, Australia still managed a decent average of 17.5, reflecting their attacking approach. What stands out is their ability to recover, losing only 3 wickets between overs 4-6 while improving their average to 22.67. Australia's approach of stabilizing after a shaky start allowed them to maintain momentum throughout the powerplay, something that India struggled to achieve.

South Africa Women, on the other hand, displayed remarkable consistency across both phases of the powerplay. They lost just 1 wicket in each phase while maintaining exceptional averages of 87 in the first three overs and 80 in the last three. This steady and cautious approach provided South Africa with a solid foundation, enabling them to build competitive totals without risking early collapses. India’s inability to replicate such consistency, especially in the later part of the powerplay, was a key factor in their underperformance.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka Women shared a similar struggle to India. Pakistan lost 2 wickets early on with an average of 19.5 but faced significant issues in overs 4-6, where they lost 8 wickets and their average plummeted to just 5.75. Sri Lanka, too, had a rough start, losing 5 wickets in the first three overs with an average of 7.8, though they managed a slight improvement in the latter part of the powerplay. These teams, much like India, found it difficult to maintain stability throughout the powerplay, making it harder to build competitive scores.

In summary, India's powerplay performance was hampered by a lack of consistency, particularly in the middle overs. Teams like Australia and South Africa showcased the importance of steady play and recovery, especially after early losses, while India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka found themselves unable to preserve their wickets, leading to collapses that ultimately impacted their campaigns. India's middle-order struggles during the powerplay, particularly in overs 4-6, were a significant factor in their early exit from the tournament.

See Also: How did Harmanpreet Kaur dominate the grand stage ?

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is going through the thrilling and exciting last round of the Group Stage. Before the last match of Group A, we are checking the final points table scenarios of the group, including how India Women can still qualify for the semifinals.

Six-time champions Australia Women have already booked their tickets for the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 after winning all four matches of the group. Three out of four remaining Group A teams are still fighting for the one remaining position for the semifinal qualification. 

2nd position: India Women 

India Women and Sri Lanka Women have also completed their group stage journey. India Women are currently in second place in the points table with four points after winning two and losing two. 

In the meantime, Sri Lanka Women lost all four matches and ended this tournament campaign without any points. 

3rd position: New Zealand Women 

After playing three matches in the group stage, New Zealand Women have four points by recording two wins and one loss. Although India Women and New Zealand Women both have the same points, India Women are ahead of the White Ferns due to the higher net run rate.

4th position: Pakistan Women

On the other hand, Pakistan Women have two points after playing three matches. They claimed one victory and two defeats in the ongoing group stage. 

In Group A, the only match left to be played is Pakistan Women vs New Zealand Women at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This match will be played on Monday (October 14) evening. 

ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Group A points table before its last match

Special Note: All the below scenarios are assumptions of a first innings total of 150 runs. 

India Women will qualify for the semi-finals

• If New Zealand Women suffer a defeat against Pakistan Women. However, Pakistan Women’s victory shouldn’t be more than 53 runs or chase the target with no more than 9.1 overs remaining. 

New Zealand Women will qualify for the semi-finals

• Only a win will be enough for the White Ferns to advance to the semi-finals.
  

Pakistan Women will qualify for the semi-finals

• It is a must-win game for Pakistan Women but also by a giant margin. They can only qualify for the semifinals if they win the match at least by 54 runs or chase the target maximum in 10.5 overs. 

India Women’s hard battle went in vain as they suffered a nine-run defeat against the six-time champions Australia Women in the crucial Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. This result will hurt India Women, as their chance to qualify for the semi-finals will now completely depend on the result of the Pakistan Women vs New Zealand Women match. 

After Australia Women chose to bat first at Sharjah, the six-time champions scored 151/8 in 20 overs. In reply, India Women scored 142/9 in 20 overs.

Renuka Singh provided a strong start

While Renuka Singh provided a strong start for India by dismissing opener Beth Mooney (2) and Georgia Wareham (0) on two consecutive deliveries, another opener Grace Harris and stand-in captain Tahila McGrath handled the next overs very well.

Grace Harris and Tahila McGrath had a good partnership

Australia Women scored 37/2 at the end of the powerplay. Harris had a 62-run partnership with the stand-in skipper before McGrath was dismissed for 32 off 26 balls. Inside the next two overs, the opener Harris lost her wicket for 40 runs off 41 balls. 

Responsible Ellyse Perry

Ellyse Perry, the stand-in vice-captain, played a useful innings of 32 off 23 balls, which helped the Aussies reach the 150-run mark.

Among the Indian bowlers, Renuka Singh (2/24) and Deepti Sharma (2/28) took two wickets each. 

Shafali Verma provided a quick start

Opener Shafali Verma provided a firing start with 20 runs off 13 balls with the help of two fours and one six. In the fourth over, Ashleigh Gardner dismissed Verma. Another opener Smriti Mandhana (6) was dismissed cheaply by Sophie Molineux in the next over. India Women scored 41/2 at the end of the powerplay. 

Megan Schutt dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues for 16 runs as India Women were struggling at 47/3. 

Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma had a crucial partnership

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma then set an important partnership for the fourth wicket. They had a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Although they were batting bravely, the required run rate was building huge pressure for the chasing team.

In the 16th over, Deepti was dismissed by Molineux for 29 runs off 25 balls (three fours), as the Indian captain had no solid partner to help her in the tight chasing. 

Captain had no support

Kaur scored two back-to-back 50s as she was not out on 54 off 42 balls with six fours. However, India Women were ultimately nine runs short of Australian women’s total. 

After scoring 14 runs in the 19th over, India Women required another 14 runs in the final over. India Women lost four wickets in the final over, including two run outs, and added only four runs.

Among the Aussie bowlers, Annabel Sutherland (2/22) and Sophie Molineux (2/32) bagged two wickets each. 

India Women's final hope 

With four out of four wins, Australia Women finished Group A as the points table leader and comfortably confirmed their semifinal place.

After this result, New Zealand Women will be happier. They need only a win against Pakistan Women to qualify for the semifinals. India Women can now only qualify for the semifinals if New Zealand Women lose against Pakistan Women. As India Women are already ahead of New Zealand Women in the net run rate, any kind of White Ferns' defeat will be enough for the India Women.