Australia reach seventh straight T20 World Cup final with win over India

A crazy run out has seen Australia prevail over India in a thriller to reach their seventh straight World Cup final.

Australia have reached a seventh straight T20 World Cup final after a thrilling victory over India in Cape Town, continuing a streak of tournament final victories over the Indians that dates back to the 2020 edition of the tournament.

Australia’s women, rebounding from the end of an era of dominance almost unmatched in any sport, entered the fixture hot favourites to book themselves into yet another final, particularly with India’s talismanic captain Harmanpreet Kaur in doubt for the fixture.

Watch Australia’s Tour of India. Every Test & ODI live & ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

India have not defeated Australia in T20 internationals since their astonishing upset at the 2020 World Cup, and with 172 on the board, a score never chased down in a Women’s T20 World Cup, the pressure was completely on the Indians, who have never won any silverware before.

Deepti Sharma took the game deep with her tail end 20 off 17. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Megan Schutt took 1-34 from her four overs. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Kaur, so often India’s heroine, came to the crease at 3/28 and put on 69 for the fourth wicket with young gun Jemimah Rodrigues.

She eventually departed with a half century to her name leaving India needing 40 off the final 26 balls.

Kaur was run out on an otherwise straightforward single after her bat plugged in the turf.

Australia are so used to steamrolling their opponents that when rare pressure moments arrive, it is absolutely felt.

Kaur’s class is such that some of Australia’s most senior players made mistakes around her, faced with the prospect of World Cup success not being inevitable for the first time.

Match winner at the crease and Run out in a semi-final. We have had this heartbreak before. Sad to see India out. Were running away with the game but Australia proved again why they are a v difficult side to beat. Well tried girls #INDWvAUSWpic.twitter.com/wNsVc3vb2D

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 23, 2023

My god that Harmanpreet Kaur runout was extremely extremely excruciating.

— Zidinchenko (@sidin) February 23, 2023

Meg Lanning fluffed a run out that would have had Kaur gone within her first twenty deliveries, while Alyssa Healy dropped two catches and Tahlia McGrath had Kaur caught off a free hit.

Ellyse Perry was only given the one over, and was taken to the cleaners for figures of 0/14, while Jess Jonassen’s death over was taken for 10.

It would come down to a little bit of luck for the Australians, and as player of the match Ash Gardner said afterwards, experience will always “find a way.”

Huge moment! 😯

Harmanpreet Kaur was playing brilliantly, but she’s just been run out after her bat got stuck in the ground…

India 135-6, requiring 38 from 24.#AUSvIND#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/VaePqSmrwX

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 23, 2023

Off the back of Kaur and Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh took India close, but eventually fell agonisingly short by six runs.

“We had no right to win it,” Gardner admitted.

“They were cruising, and then we found a way to get some wickets. We scrapped. We fought hard right to the end.”

Speaking after the game, a visibly upset Kaur spoke of her huge disappointment of failing to win a game that had seemed in India’s grasp.

“Can’t feel unluckier than this,” she said.

“We got the momentum back… to lose from there, we weren’t expecting this. The way I got run out, can’t be unluckier than that.

“Putting the effort was important and we were happy to go to the last ball. We wanted to fight until the last ball.”

Australia will defend their crown on Sunday against either England or South Africa.