How Australia defied the odds to reach another World Cup final

It looked like India was cruising into the T20 World Cup final, but some huge moments and a selection masterstroke helped Australia continue its incredible streak on the biggest stage.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur thought Australia had given up during their epic semi-final, but it turns out you can never write off the best team in the world, which rallied late to storm into its seventh straight T20 World Cup decider, thanks in part to a masterstroke selection gamble.

It looked for a few nervy minutes like India was set to pull off a monumental upset when it raced to 3/93 at the drinks break, requiring another 80 runs from 60 deliveries to knock Australia out of the tournament.

Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 24) was out two balls later to a bouncer she should have left, but India was still on top with Kaur at the crease until disaster struck just after she’d brought up her 50.

Kaur’s dismissal was the beginning of the end for India, who were eliminated from the World Cup semi-final by Australia. Picture: Rodger Bosch / AFP

The skipper was coming back for a second run and would have made her ground easily, only for her bat to get stuck in the turf, allowing Alyssa Healy to whip off the bails after earlier spilling a tough chance off Kaur’s outside edge.

It was a hammer blow for India, who fell five runs short, with Kaur in tears knowing this was their chance to avenge the 2020 World Cup decider, as well as last year’s Commonwealth Games gold medal match.

“It is disappointing because according to the momentum of the match and the way we were playing cricket, we shouldn't have lost like this,” Kaur told reporters.

“Because from the Australian team’s body language, it looked like they gave up the match.

“But the moment I got out, the momentum shifted from India to Australia. I personally felt it was a turning point.”

Ashleigh Gardner held her nerve in the final over to help Australia reach yet another World Cup final. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP

Kaur wasn’t the only one who thought Australia’s incredible run at World Cups was about to end, but someone didn’t tell the two-time defending champions, who never lost belief out in the middle.

“I think at the 10-over mark in India's batting innings, everyone had probably written us off, but I think that just shows our character within our side and that’s why the best teams win in those types of positions,” player of the match Ashleigh Gardner said.

“I know that’s what we speak about; when our backs are up against the wall, we always try and find a way and today we probably had no right to win at one point there.

“They were cruising and then we found a way to get some wickets and ultimately came out on top.”

Even with India’s big guns back in the shed, they only needed 20 off the final two overs.

That’s when skipper Meg Lanning turned to one of her most trusted allies, with Jess Jonassen brought on to bowl the penultimate over in an incredible show of faith after she’d sat out the previous three games.

Jonassen held her nerve to concede just four runs thanks to some incredible fielding by Ellyse Perry, with Gardner doing enough in the final over to get Australia home.

The decision to recall Jonassen paid dividends, with the veteran halting India’s momentum in the penultimate over. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP

“To be honest, I wasn't nervous at all,” Jonassen said.

“I was probably more nervous earlier on in the innings, with ball in hand, but also out in the field.

“Coming in for those death overs, those moments, I love that stuff.

“I live and breathe it. I almost feel like I’ve made it my own with this team; that that’s my role and I absolutely love it, so any opportunity I get, I take it with both hands.”

The veteran only found out the night before she would replace Alana King for the semi-final, and selectors now face a brutal call for Monday’s final (AEST), given the latter hadn’t missed a match since her international debut 12 months ago but went wicketless in the four group games.

“I was pretty shocked and very pleased, obviously, but it's always a bit of mixed emotions,” Jonassen said.

“I do a lot of work with Kingy in training and stuff and know what she’s able to bring to the group, so it’s always hard when someone like that also misses out.”