'Kya heartbreak pehlle run lena sikho'- Australia knock India out of Women's 20-20 World Cup 2023; beat them by 5 runs in semi-final

India vs Australia: (Image Source: Twitter)

In a nail-biting fixture at Newlands Cricket Ground, Australia Women registered a 5-run win over India Women on Thursday in the Semi-Final 1 match of the Women's 20-20 World Cup 2023. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues fought hard with the bat and kept the team in the hunt for most part of the second innings but, unfortunately, the duo couldn't guide the team home.

After winning the toss, Australia chose to bat first at Cape Town. Australia looked comfortable throughout the innings. The team got off to a decent start as Healy and Beth Mooney stitched a half-century partnership in the powerplay. Healy departed in the 8th over after playing an uncharacteristic knock of 25 runs in 26 balls.

However, Australia upped the ante, thereafter. Mooney kept scoring boundaries at regular intervals at a quick pace and played a handy knock of 54 runs in 37 balls. Mooney, on the other hand, played an anchor inning as she stayed right till the end. Gardner, once again, wreaked havoc with the bat, amassing 31 runs in 18 deliveries.

When she departed, Australia had scored 141 for 3 in 17.5 overs and needed a good finish. Meg Lanning then took the matters into her own hands and smashed Renuka Singh for 18 runs in the final over. It eventually proved the difference in the game. Lanning played an unbeaten knock of 49 runs in 34 balls.

Chasing a big target, India could not get off to a flying start. The Women in Blue lost both the openers for just 15 runs on the board and lost Yastika Bhatia within the fourth over. At the end of 4 overs, India were tottering at 28 for 3.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues then stitched a 69-run partnership to architect a sensational fightback. Rodrigues (43 off 24), unfortunately, got out at a crucial stage in the game but it was Harmanpreet Kaur’s (52) unfortunate run-out that killed the hopes for the Indians.

Richa Ghosh (14 off 17) also had a forgettable outing with the bat and India, eventually, fell 5 runs short.

Here's a look at some of the reactions from the fans:

Yup "just" five runs....Maybe if Shefali, Mandhana & Vastrakar contributed those 5 runs, India would have won lol.

Champion cricketer & the best from India - Mandhana keeps choking against Aus in every knockout match.

— Nirvana (@RahulThinksSo) February 23, 2023

Another SF loss n yet again the lower order batting has let us down! Kaur's run out, the turning point in the game seeing our girls return staying just one step away from the trophy.WPL is our only hope in finding players who could plug these holes.Hard luck! Congratulations Aus!

— Tejas Pujare (@TejasPujare7) February 23, 2023

I am more disappointed than i was in men's WC they were no where close to win

But we were very close to win here
Never thought gonna cry for women cricket match 💔

— TASH (@theytash) February 23, 2023

To win a cricket match u have to do fielding also not only runs and wickets that's the difference

— Vishnurawal (@Vishnu16410) February 23, 2023

It's called a heartbreak when the team performs as per the standards of a WC knockout game which isn't the case here

— Jayesh (@Jayesh_45) February 23, 2023

Heartbreak for India*

— Yash. (@yashhverse) February 23, 2023

That unfortunate run out took away the match which was under our bag. Still just can't believe.

— saisundar (@saisund33013985) February 23, 2023

We should stop watching the senior teams of both men and women and start encouraging U-19 teams of both.

— Apoorv Singh 🇮🇳 (@AddyappApoorv) February 23, 2023

Kya heartbreak phle run Lena sikhao

— Abhishek (@abhi_tweetz_) February 23, 2023

Gam awareness 0 start mili jemmi ko but match ham kyu finish kare

— Aarav Mavi (@AaravMavi14) February 23, 2023

Deepti Sharma ko nikaldo single tk nhi nikalte issye death over Mai aajte h baating krne

— Yash Joshi (@Sociallyhoe_) February 23, 2023