India wins silver after losing to Australia by 9 runs in 1st Commonwealth women’s cricket final
The Hindu
India, chasing down Australia’s target of 162, appeared to be on course for a shock victory in the Commonwealth Games women’s cricket final when they were 118-2 in the 15th over, but a clatter of wickets slowed their charge
There couldn’t have been a more fitting finale to the women’s T20 cricket event of the Commonwealth Games.
For the Indian fans, an overwhelming majority in the crowd that turned up at the Edgbaston Stadium, it may have brought back unpleasant memories of the 2017 women’s World Cup final between India and England when the Women In Blue shockingly went down to the host by nine runs at Lord’s.
On Sunday, the margin of defeat was similar as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s 65 (43b, 7x4, 2x6) went in vain against Australia. The Indian women had to settle for silver in their maiden CWG cricket campaign.
India appeared to be on course for a shock victory when they were 118-2 in the 15th over but a clatter of wickets slowed their charge. They still found boundaries to keep them in the hunt and reached the final over with 11 runs needed and two wickets in hand. But Meghna Singh was run out off the second ball and Yastika Bhatia was trapped lbw the following ball.
Victory underlines the dominance of Australia’s women, who are also world champions in the 20-over and 50-over formats.
The toss, delayed over discussions surrounding Australia all-rounder Tahlia McGrath’s inclusion in the XI even though she tested positive for COVID-19, saw Meg Lanning opt to bat.
Meg Lanning (36, 26b, 5x4, 6x1) and Beth Mooney (61, 41b, 8x4) added 74 in 47 balls, the best of the Australian innings, as the team finished with 161 for eight in 20 overs. Australia were unable to create the momentum they wanted, losing wickets at regular intervals in the face of an impressive performance by India in the field
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.