Ananya Lohia , London - India’s Women’s T20 World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking end as Australia chased down a target of 171 with six wickets in hand at Lord’s, securing a place in the semifinals and paving the way for South Africa’s qualification.

After posting 170/4, thanks largely to captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive 56 off 27 balls, India appeared in control when Australia slipped to 85/3 after 12 overs. However, a costly 17-run over from Radha Yadav shifted the momentum, allowing Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner to launch a stunning recovery. The Australian duo stitched together a match-winning 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with Perry scoring 56 and Gardner remaining unbeaten on 53.

India’s bowlers had earlier impressed, with Renuka Singh, Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma striking at regular intervals to keep Australia under pressure. Earlier, Harmanpreet led India’s batting effort with a captain’s knock, smashing three consecutive sixes in the final over to lift the total. She also shared a crucial 64-run stand with Jemimah Rodrigues, while Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma provided a solid start with a 66-run opening partnership.

Despite a spirited performance, India failed to defend the target as Australia completed the chase with an over to spare, ending India’s tournament hopes.