India were ruled out of the final of the on-going Twenty20 International tri-series after a 36-run loss to Australia on Monday at Mumbai. Megan Schutt became the first Australian to claim a hat-trick in the format as she ripped through India’s top order to leave them struggling in the chase of 187. The pacer took (3-31) dismissing Smriti Mandhana (3), veteran Mithali Raj, who was out on a duck, and Deepti Sharma (2).
This was the hosts’ third successive defeat and will be aiming for a consolation win over England in their last league match on Thursday. The only positive for India was Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored her maiden international fifty opening the innings.
Earlier, Pooja Vastrakar (2 for 28) struck two early blows to reduce them to 29/2 but Australia rebuilt with help from Beth Mooney and Elyse Villani’s half centuries to set India a challenging target of 186/5. They then restricted the hosts to 150 for 5 in 20 overs.
The Australian bowlers never allowed the Indian batters to settle and took wickets at regular intervals on a placid track.
Schutt cleaned up Mandhana and Raj off the fifth and the sixth ball of the second over. She completed her hat-trick in the first ball of the fifth over by removing Sharma, who gave a sitter to Amanda Jade Wellington at mid-off, leaving the hosts in deep trouble at 26/3.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33 off 30 balls) and Rodrigues (50 off 41 balls) stitched a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket, but that was not enough to take the home side to victory. Harmanpreet dealt in ones and twos but the big shots just did not come through for the two. Rodrigues was guilty of giving her wicket away by chipping straight down to the fielder.
Harmanpreet tried to up the ante by hitting a four and a six off consecutive balls, in the 14th over, but was dismissed off the very next ball, caught by Delissa Kimmince off Ashleigh Gardner. A quick-fire 38 off 26 balls from Anuja Patil did chip in but the asking rate had risen considerably by then.
Brief Scores:
Australia Women (186/5 in 20 overs; Beth Mooney 71, Elyse Villani 61, Pooja Vastrakar 2-28) won against India Women (150/5 in 20 overs; Jemimah Rodrigues 50, Anuja Patil 38 not out, Megan Schutt 3-31) by 36 runs.
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