Australia knock India out of Women’s T20 World Cup after record chase

Australia defeated India by six wickets after chasing 171 in record-breaking fashion at Lord’s. Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner scored match-winning fifties to end India’s Women’s T20 World Cup campaign and guide Australia into the semifinals

London: India’s campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 came to a heartbreaking end as Australia produced the highest successful run chase in the tournament’s history to register a commanding six-wicket victory at Lord’s on Sunday. Chasing a challenging target of 171, Australia rode on superb half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner to complete the chase with an over to spare, ending India’s hopes of reaching the semifinals.

The defeat meant India finished third in Group 1 with six points from five matches, while Australia and South Africa progressed to the last four with eight points each. It was another painful exit for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side despite posting one of their best batting performances of the tournament.

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India looked firmly in control after captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a sensational late assault to power her side to 170/4, a total that appeared competitive on a surface offering something for both batters and bowlers. However, Australia’s experienced middle order absorbed the early pressure before launching a clinical chase that rewrote the Women’s T20 World Cup record books.

Needing a strong start, Australia suffered an early setback when Renuka Singh trapped Georgia Voll leg-before in the opening over. Voll departed for just four, briefly lifting Indian hopes in a must-win encounter.

However, Renuka’s opening over also contained four wides and conceded 11 runs, allowing Australia to recover quickly. Returning from injury, Phoebe Litchfield looked confident from the outset as she struck consecutive boundaries off Kranti Gaud in the second over before Beth Mooney joined the attack with two boundaries of her own.

Litchfield ensured Australia finished the Power-play strongly by smashing a six off the first ball of the sixth over before collecting another boundary, taking Australia to 49/1 after six overs despite the early wicket.

India finally found another breakthrough immediately after the Power-play through premier spinner Shree Charani. The left-arm spinner produced a superb delivery that trapped Litchfield as she attempted to accelerate. Litchfield departed for a composed 24 from 25 deliveries, featuring two fours and a six, but Australia’s response was immediate.

Ellyse Perry walked in with positive intent and struck two boundaries in her first three deliveries. At the other end, Mooney continued rotating the strike before attempting to break free against Deepti Sharma. Looking to slog-sweep a full delivery, Mooney mistimed her shot and Radha Yadav completed the catch.

Mooney’s dismissal for 22 from 20 balls gave India renewed hope while Deepti achieved another personal milestone by claiming the 356th wicket of her international career. At 82/3, India sensed an opening. Instead, Perry and Gardner combined to produce the match-defining partnership.

The experienced duo gradually shifted momentum towards Australia through intelligent strike rotation before launching an aggressive assault against India’s bowlers. Gardner immediately took on Radha Yadav, smashing a four and a six during the 13th over, while Perry continued finding boundaries to keep the asking rate under control.

Gardner cleared the ropes again in the 15th over while Perry continued piercing the field with elegant drives. Harmanpreet searched desperately for a breakthrough and even handed the ball to Shafali Verma in an attempt to break the partnership, but Australia comfortably collected another 12 runs.

The turning point came in the 17th over. Renuka Singh, India’s most experienced pace bowler, endured a difficult spell as Perry completed her half-century off just 33 balls with another boundary. The over leaked 17 runs and effectively ended India’s hopes of a comeback.

Perry eventually fell in the final over after a magnificent 56 from 38 deliveries, striking eight boundaries, but the damage had already been done. Gardner ensured there would be no late twist.

The Australian all-rounder reached her fifty from 28 balls with a boundary off Deepti Sharma and remained unbeaten on 53 as Australia completed the chase in 19 overs, sealing a semifinal place and recording the highest successful chase in Women’s T20 World Cup history.

Earlier, India produced one of their finest batting displays of the tournament after Harmanpreet elected to bat first.

Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma began cautiously but soon found momentum. Mandhana collected boundaries off Kim Garth, while Shafali launched a counterattack against Ashleigh Gardner.

Shafali’s aggressive strokeplay helped India reach 43 without loss after six overs. The opening partnership crossed 60 before Sophie Molineux dismissed Shafali for a fluent 34 from 26 balls.

Mandhana continued anchoring the innings but was run out for 38 after a misunderstanding with Jemimah Rodrigues.

Harmanpreet Kaur then took charge, rebuilding before unleashing a stunning assault in the death overs. She smashed three consecutive sixes to bring up her half-century from 25 balls before falling the next delivery.

Her explosive 56 from 26 balls helped India post 170/4, but Australia’s record chase ended India’s World Cup campaign.

Brief Scores: India 170/4 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56, Smriti Mandhana 38, Shafali Verma 34; Sophie Molineux 2-46) lost to Australia 172/4 in 19 overs (Ellyse Perry 56, Ashleigh Gardner 53*, Phoebe Litchfield 24; Shree Charani 2-32, Deepti Sharma 1-31) by six wickets.