Grace Harris’ anchoring 40 gave Australia a strong platform before Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland took two wickets apiece, guaranteeing their place in a ninth-straight semi-final.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 54 was not enough as India now need Pakistan to beat New Zealand on Monday to progress to the knockouts.

Having chosen to bat, Australia began with Beth Mooney alongside Harris as captain Alyssa Healy was unable to play due to a foot injury.

The match burst into life in the third over when Thakur consecutively dismissed Beth Mooney and Georgia Wareham.

Mooney was caught by Radha Yadav at point while Wareham was out LBW for a golden duck, though Hawk-Eye showed the ball was missing leg stump if Australia had taken the review.

Harris steadied the ship alongside stand-in skipper Tahlia McGrath to guide the Aussies to 37 for two at the end of the powerplay before the pair accelerated with a flurry of fours to reach 65 for two halfway through their innings.

India started to create chances, including a catching opportunity for Pooja Vastrakar which fell short before captain Harmanpreet Kaur dropped a straightforward chance to dismiss McGrath.

However, the drop proved insignificant after Yadav dismissed the stand-in captain two balls later for 32 when she was stumped by Richa Ghosh to end the 62-run partnership.

Harris tried to counterattack, but Deepti Sharma had her caught at short midwicket for 40 and Ashleigh Gardner was dismissed by Vastrakar in the next over for six after skying the ball to Yadav to leave Australia 101 for five with five overs left.

Perry fought back for the defending champions alongside Phoebe Litchfield as the duo hit three consecutive boundaries.

The all-rounders quickfire 32 was ended when she was caught at square leg off Sharma, but Australia powered their way to 151 even as they lost late wickets.

Shafali Verma got India off to a fast start in their reply but found Annabel Sutherland at long on off Gardner’s bowling as she fell for 20.

Molineux dismissed Smriti Mandhana LBW after a review, leaving India 41 for two at the end of the powerplay.

Megan Schutt continued to stall India’s momentum when she had Jemimah Rodrigues caught in the deep for 16 in the seventh over as Molineux and Sutherland starved India of boundaries, restricting them to 67 for three after ten overs.

Kaur was handed a reprieve in the 12th over when Darcie Brown put down a tricky chance, but she and Sharma struggled to accelerate as the required rate reached double figures.

India needed 53 runs off the final five overs and scored three boundaries off the 16th over to make the final exchanges nervy.

However, Sharma was caught on the rope for 29 before Ghosh was run out after Litchfield’s direct hit to see Australia return to the ascendancy.

Kaur and Vastrakar rallied with boundaries to leave India needing 14 off the final over, but four wickets and denying Kaur the strike saw Australia claim a strong win.

Scores in brief

Australia vs India, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Australia 151/8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 40, Tahlia McGrath 32, Ellyse Perry 32; Renuka Singh Thakur 2/24, Deepti Sharma)

India 142/9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54 not out, Deepti Sharma 29; Annabel Sutherland 2/22, Sophie Molineux 2/32)

Result: Australia won by nine runs

With thanks to the ICC

Smriti Mandhana (50) and Shafali Verma (43) set the tone, amassing 98 for the first wicket and despite falling in consecutive balls, a thunderous 52 from Harmanpreet Kaur carried India to 172 for three in Dubai.

India defended the highest total of the tournament ruthlessly, bowling Sri Lanka out for 90 as the Lions’ group-stage exit was confirmed following their third successive defeat.

After India opted to bat, Verma assumed the role as early aggressor and reached 2,000 T20I runs in the process, becoming the youngest player to reach the milestone.

Opening partner Mandhana soon joined the party, striking the first six of the game off the final ball of the seventh over to bring up the 50 partnership.

Mandhana then threatened to steal the show, moving past Verma with a couple of gorgeous lofted boundary strokes into the off side before bringing up her 50 off just 36 balls.

But just as India looked to be sailing to a commanding total, the brakes came on their innings courtesy of a quickfire double strike for Sri Lanka.

Just two balls after passing 50, Mandhana was run out by Ama Kanchana when looking to scamper through for a single, paying the price for a slight hesitation halfway down the track.

Verma departed the very next ball, top edging into the hands of Vishmi Gunaratne off the bowling of Chamari Athapaththu.

That brought two new batters to the crease in Jemimah Rodrigues and Kaur who were both offered a reprieve when looking to reassert India’s dominance.

Rodrigues was dismissed for 16, unable to cash in having been dropped just an over prior, but Kaur took full advantage after being given a second life by Inoka Ranaweera on 22.

The Indian skipper smashed her way to 52 off just 27 deliveries for her 13th and fastest T20I half century, bludgeoning a four from the final ball to sign off India’s innings in style.

Hopes of a seismic Sri Lanka chase were dealt a blow with just the second ball when Radha Yadav claimed a stunning catch to remove Gunaratne.

Athapaththu followed in the second over and Harshitha Samarawickrama in the third as the Lions were reduced to 6 for 3.

Kavisha Dilhari (21) and keeper Anushka Sanjeewani (20) offered some resistance, but Sri Lanka fell increasingly behind the rate as India’s spinners wreaked havoc, with the final wicket falling with a ball to spare.

Scores in brief:

India v Sri Lanka, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

India 172/3 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 52, Smriti Mandhana 50; Ama Kanchana, Chamari Athapaththu 1/34)

Sri Lanka 90 all out in 19.5 overs (Kavisha Dilhari 21, Anushka Sanjeewani 20; Arundhati Reddy 3/19, Asha Sobhana <3/19)

Result: India win by 82 runs

With thanks to the ICC

After a heavy loss to New Zealand in their opening match, India could not afford to slip up against their big rivals in this ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash.

And thanks to some fine bowling from Arundhati Reddy, they were able to ease to an important win, with Pakistan only able to make 105 for eight from their 20 overs.

In reply, India were never able to cut loose, but good running and some stable partnerships saw them home, with Shafali Verma (32) and Harmanpreet Kaur (29) making valuable contributions in the chase.

Having won the toss, Pakistan elected to bat, but found themselves in early trouble with Renuka Singh removing Gull Feroza in the very first over.

Deepti Sharma then got in on the act, as she found a way through Sidra Amin’s (8) defences.

Reddy was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of three for 19, with her first victim Omaima Sohail, who miscued a slower delivery straight to Shafali Verma, leaving Pakistan at 34 for three after seven overs.

That brought Nida Dar to the crease but with the run-rate stalling, Muneeba Ali tried to pick up the pace, only to be stumped by Richa Ghosh for 17 off the bowling of Shreyanka Patil.

Reddy was next to strike, removing Aliya Riaz leg before for four and at 52 for five, Fatima Sana had a big job to do.

She showed intent, including back-to-back boundaries off Asha Sobhana before she fell to sensational catch by Ghosh behind the stumps, going for 13.

Patil had Tuba Hassan caught at fine leg for a duck in a miserly spell of two for 12 from her four overs.

But while Reddy finally did for Nida (28) in the final over, six runs off the last two balls from Nashra Sandhu, gave Pakistan some momentum as they reached 105 from their 20 overs.

In response, India started steadily, but with boundaries hard to come by, Smriti Mandhana tried to force the pace and was caught for seven off 16 deliveries off the bowling of Sadia Iqbal.

Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues observed early before starting to raise the tempo. But just as she seemed to be cutting loose, Verma could not quite clear the boundary at long on, and she was caught for 32 off Omaima, leaving India 61 for two after a stand of 43.

Despite the hit their net run-rate took against New Zealand, India did not take too many chances in the chase, although Rodrigues fell for 23 while trying to play a big shot off Fatima, with 26 still to get.

And Fatima removed Ghosh in the exact same manner next ball, caught behind for a duck.

Sharma survived the hat-trick ball, and she and Kaur took India to the brink before the skipper had to retire hurt after injuring herself in the penultimate over.

Sajana Sajeevan came in with two to get and hit her first delivery for four to seal the win for India.

Scores in brief

India v Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Pakistan 105 for eight in 20 overs (Nida Dar 28, Muneeba Ali 17; Arundhati Reddy 3/19, Shreyanka Patil 2/12)

India 108 for four in 18.5 overs (Shafali Verma 32, Harmanpreet Kaur 29 retired hurt; Fatima Sana 2/23, Omaima Sohail 1/17)

Result: India won by six wickets

With thanks to the ICC

Sophie Devine steered New Zealand both as skipper and with the bat, making 57 not out to help the White Ferns set India an imperious 161 to win.

In reply, India struggled to keep pace, too often picking the wrong shots to gift New Zealand wickets and their first win in 11 T20 internationals.

Having chosen to bat, New Zealand made sure that a relative gamble paid off as Suzie Bates set the tone.

She began the innings with a four and she and Georgia Plimmer motored to 55 without loss in the powerplay.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur used breaks in the game as a chance to re-set, and her team were full of effort but not always able to take advantage of the chances they created – with Richa Ghosh putting down a high ball from Bates, having mis-judged the flight.

The White Ferns kept scoring quickly until Bates departed for 27 from 24 balls and Plimmer (34) followed three balls later to leave New Zealand at 67 for two and with two new batters at the crease.

However, those batters were the experienced pair of Amelia Kerr and Devine. Kerr’s time at the crease was an eventful one, as she was seemingly run out chasing a single before being handed a reprieve when the decision was overturned after the ball was called dead.

The all-rounder scored 13 before her powerful shot was caught well by Pooja Vastrakar, with New Zealand having moved to 109.

From there, the scoring picked up again, with Devine leading the charge while ably supported by Brooke Halliday and then Maddy Green.

New Zealand took 37 runs off the final three overs to reach 160 for four at the innings break and present India the chance to complete the second highest successful chase of a Women’s T20 World Cup.

In response, India made 11 off the first over before Shafali Verma departed for two with Smriti Mandhana and Kaur also falling in the powerplay, as off-spinner Eden Carson claimed two wickets.

Rodrigues had been electric in the field for India but, faced with an uphill battle of a rising run rate, she hit the ball straight to Maddy Green at mid-on while trying to force it through a gap in the field.

Halliday then dropped Sharma on zero but New Zealand did not have to wait long for a fifth and sixth wicket.

First Ghosh and then Arundhati Reddy sent easy catches to fielders as India fell to 75 for six in the 13th over.

It was a similar story for Sharma, who added 13 runs to the total before Devine took a simple catch at mid-off to hand Lea Tahuhu her third wicket. Rosemary Mair took four wickets in total as India’s chase petered out in the penultimate over.

Scores in brief

New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

New Zealand 160 for four in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 57 not out, Georgia Plimmer 34; Renuka Singh Thakur 2/27

India 102 all out in 19 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 15, Jemimah Rodrigues 13; Rosemary Mair 4/19, Lea Tahuhu

Result: New Zealand win by 58 runs

With thanks to the ICC

There is no shortage of ambition and drive in this team, and we will leave no stone unturned as we look to make a mark and go the distance, playing a fearless brand of cricket.

The expectation is straightforward: to bring glory to the country and our supporters who back us to the hilt, no matter which part of the world we play in.

Every member of the team looks at the Women’s T20 World Cup, in addition to every match we play, as an opportunity to put our best foot forward collectively and inspire the young and aspiring cricketers across the globe to follow and take up the sport which all of us love and respect.

It is our team’s dream to win this coveted trophy, and I feel, as a team, we have what it takes to lift the trophy. We made it to the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final in Australia and came tantalisingly close to reaching the final in the previous edition in South Africa in 2023. It makes it clear that the team has the pedigree and what it takes to shine on the biggest stage.

This will be our first time playing in the UAE and there is excitement in the camp and a lot to look forward to. I am pretty sure the crowd will turn out in huge numbers as we play across Dubai and Sharjah.

There is a solid amount of experience in this group, which has been playing a lot of competitive cricket across the globe. While some of our team members are still in their early 20s, they have played a lot of cricket, have been through challenging situations and have come out triumphant.

Additionally, the new faces in the squad come with eagerness to learn and perform and bring that exuberance into the mix.

There is camaraderie in the group and a tremendous amount of respect towards each other. We back each other and make sure no one is ever left behind. It also helps that we have a support staff that plays a massive role in maintaining a healthy atmosphere in and around the team.

If anything, our preparations for this tournament commenced as soon as the last edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup came to an end.

The team has a clear vision and each individual has been given full freedom to prepare in the way which will help the team succeed.

While cricketing skills obviously matter, there is equal focus on the fitness of the players as we understand how much that aspect of the game matters and how much it can make a difference. It also helps that all the players have bought into this idea and system.

While the team’s strategies will vary as per the opposition, our focus largely remains to staying true to our strengths and doing full justice to our potential.

With thanks to the ICC

This is a very rare one-off test match, due to last four days.

We are supposed not to draw lengthy conclusions from insufficient evidence, but one single day of test-match cricket in Chennai makes us wonder about the future of multi-day women’s cricket.

India finished on a quite massive 525-4.

This is not a record, but the innings continues tomorrow. Perhaps the question could be: will it continue into a third day? Unlikely, but it’s a hundred years since Australian cricket went mad and two state sides topped 1000 runs in a single innings. Now that would be an antidote to `The Hundred!

The opening partnership had reached 292 when Smriti Mandhana fell agonisingly one short of 150. But Shafali Verma, who had faced the first ball, went on to a glorious double hundred (205) at more than a run a ball.

The traditional follow-up to such a partnership is a second wicket falling in quick succession. In fact Shubha Satheesh stayed 25 minutes at the wicket, adding 15

But after her dismissal India continued their remorseless advance. Jemimah Rodrigues made 55 (450-4!), then Harmanpreet Kaur (42*) and Richa Ghosh (43*) added a further 75 runs before the distraught Springboks could seek shelter inside.

Pre-match Thoughts

It has been strange hearing the normally reticent Laura Wolvaardt making her opinions known so publicly. But now she is the captain, it’s her job to face interviews, and she has let the SA authorities know exactly what she thinks about the state of women’s cricket in the republic.

For one thing, she sees a need for much more red-ball cricket. Hear, hear! But that call is like King Canute telling the tide not to advance. The people in charge all around the world work on the premise: the shorter the contest, the better – rather like a one-round bout of boxing. Get the job done, and we can all go home.

We await the second day with more than usual impatience.

Teams

India:

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh

South Africa:

Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Delmi Tucker, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Annerie Dercksen, Nonkulueko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune

England Women suffered a 347-run defeat in their Test match against India at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

India declared before the start of play, setting England 479 to win but Heather Knight’s side fell to 131 all out inside 27.3 overs.

Openers Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley started well before Renuka Singh Thakur bowled Beaumont at 27-1 while Dunkley was dismissed by Pooja Vastrakar.

Nat Sciver-Brunt was out for a first-ball duck from a fine ball from Vastrakar.

Knight’s 21 was England’s highest score while Charlie Dean finished on 20.

Spinners Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad thwarted England’s middle order, Sharma took 4-32 to finish with nine wickets in the match. Elsewhere, seamer Vastrakar impressed with 3-23.

England return to action in March where they tour New Zealand to contest five IT20s and three ODIs.

With thanks to the ECB

England fell to 136 all out in reply to India’s first-innings of 428.

Off-spinner Deepti Sharma took 5-7, with Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 59 a significant contribution for England.

India decided against the the follow-on, Charlie Dean took 4-68 and fellow spinner Sophie Ecclestone 2-76, but India finished on 186-6 and a lead of 478.

Heather Knight’s side were targeting quick early wickets as India ended the opening day on 410-7. They managed to do just that, taking three wickets for 18 runs in 10.3 overs in the morning session. Lauren Bell and Ecclestone ended the innings with three wickets to their name, England bowled India for 428 all out.

Play resumes at 9.30am local time tomorrow (Saturday 16 December).

With thanks to the ECB

Four India batters recorded half-centuries including debutants Jemimah Rodrigues and Satheesh Shubha as England’s bowlers fought hard on a batter-friendly pitch.

England started brightly as Lauren Bell and Kate Cross removed openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma but India regrouped with Rodrigues and Shubha batting for a partnership of 115.

Shubha fell for 69 and Rodrigues 68. Yastika Bhatia and captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a 116-run partnership before the latter was run out for 49 by Danni Wyatt’s direct hit.

Deepti Sharma’s 60 thwarted a fightback from England’s bowlers.

Bell ended the day on 2-64 while Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Nat Sciver-Brunt all took wickets, Heather Knight’s side taking two quick wickets on three separate occasions.

Play resumes at 9.30am local time tomorrow (Friday 15 December).

Thanks to the ECB

While you hear that wish expressed on all sides, the effects at ground level are far harder to perceive. For example, the coming test at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai is a 4-dayer, not a 5. Why?

Second, why is England’s only accompaniment to the big match a series of T20s? They are no sort of proper preparation for the noblest form of the game.

Third: England haven’t played a multi-day game on the subcontinent for eighteen years. I pause to gasp. Fourth: India will be playing their first test since 2014. Are the BCCI, the ECB and the ICC really committed to test cricket?

It leaves Heather Knight admitting concern, even nervousness about possible outcomes. That is not typical fighting talk from such an experienced captain.

Some of her squad (see below) have been hunting for their best form in the shorter forms of the game. But does that indicate vulnerability when batters can stay at the crease for hours on end, and bowlers can wheel away for a two-hour session?

To my mind England selections for the last two tests played have been at fault. Quite apart from the ludicrous burden placed on Sophie Ecclestone’s shoulders (one of which is recovering from a dislocation), Danni Wyatt, allowed a test debut at the age of 32, found herself having to hold the fort as England’s batting collapsed around her. That has never been her forte.

England have a squad of fifteen to choose from. They comprise:

Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Kirstie Gordon, Bess Heath, Amy Jones (w-k), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt

They include nine batters, two, possibly three of whom can expect to turn their arm, a keeper who has batted in the top order, a reserve keeper who bats strongly, but no obvious partner for Tammy Beaumont to open proceedings. Emma Lamb, who might have been first choice, has sadly had to return home injured.

There is a total of nine bowlers who might hope to get the call. Most types are included, but the only wrist spinner is Sophia Dunkley, as it’s Sarah Glenn’s turn to be discarded.

Much depends on who else is left out of the fifteen. England have the advantage of two really pacy bowlers, the two Laurens, of whom Bell can produce disconcerting swing. Filer now ranks among the quickest in world cricket. In the spin department we have two left-arm slows, Kirstie Gordon added to the inevitable Ecclestone, and two off-spinners, Charlie Dean and Alice Capsey.

But England selectors have shown themselves strangely unwilling to employ spinners. We shall see how far that strategy alters on a potentially dusty track in Mumbai.

England supporters can only hope that Knight’s misgivings are ill-founded. But it’s nine years since England last won a test match – far too long.

India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Titas Sadhu, Saika Ishaque, Satheesh Shubha

Match details: 14-17 December, starting at 04.00 GMT.