Twitter Reactions: India fall short in closely-fought game as Australia book finale berth

After the end of the league stages, the action moved to the knockout stages in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 as India and Australia faced each other in the first semi-final on February 23. Australia captain Meg Lanning won the toss at Newlands, Cape Town and decided to set a target for India in the all-important fixture.

Australian openers Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney started the innings positively, putting India under pressure. The Indian team looked pale and were sloppy in the field as there were several misfields and some catches dropped that helped Australia gain full control.

The openers added 52 runs for the first wicket in 45 balls before their partnership was finally broken by Radha Yadav, who dismissed Healy for 25. At the other end, Mooney continued and ended up scoring a magnificent half-century to bring her team into ascendancy. She scored 54 off 37 balls before getting dismissed by Shikha Pandey.

Following Mooney’s dismissal, Meg Lanning and Ashleigh Gardner took the innings forward with their 53-run stand off 36 balls. Gardner played a brilliant cameo of 31 off 18 balls before Deepti Sharma destroyed her stumps and gave India their third strike.

Lanning continued her captain’s knock and remained unbeaten on 49 off 34 balls as Australia posted 172/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Shikha Pandey was the pick of the bowlers from India as she finished her four-over spell with figures of 2/32.

Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues fight in vain

In reply, India got off to the worst possible start, losing the swashbuckling opener Shafali Verma in the second over itself. The matters got worse in the next over as Smriti Mandhana was trapped in front of the stumps by Gardner. It seemed like India were digging their own grave as Yastika Bhatia got involved in a bizarre run out, leaving India reeling at 28/3.

With hopes of Indian fans dying all around, in-form batter Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur fuelled life back into the game with their magnificent 69-run stand off 41 balls. Rodrigues couldn’t complete her half-century and was unlucky to get dismissed on 43 off 24 balls.

However, Harmanpreet continued her captain’s knock and went on to score 52 off 34 balls before she was run out. She left India on the brink of victory as they required 40 off 32 balls to win. The incoming batters tried their best but could not take their team home as they fell short by five runs.

Here's how Twitter reacted:

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

VIKRANT KAUSHIK@7VIKRANTKAUSHIK

@ICC These semi final run outs hurt more than break ups.……...😭

09:40 PM · Feb 23, 2023

1167

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

Rakesh das@Rakesh007hubba

@ICC Sala majak chal raha hai kaya .. T20 wc Sami final hai , or in logo ko koyi vi seriousness nahi hai ... In logo ko Khali tik tok bana ne do .. bass , majak bana k rakkha hai

09:40 PM · Feb 23, 2023

50

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

Simply PRABEEN@prabeennet

@ICC This 1 stuck. What about the clear wide ball in 19th ov! What umpire to not to give wide India would hv got 1 run, extra ball sneh rana hit! Similarly why not that Jemimah high over head she try to guide ov ek for runs, but given out caught behind?

09:45 PM · Feb 23, 2023

00

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

Advocate Drishti Thakkar@Populardrishti

@ICC Can't believe V cudnt score 40 runs of 32 balls with 5 wickets in hand 🤦 Really we don't deserve world cup if V can't chase 40 of 32. It means After 5th wickets, V hv absolutely NO BATTER WHO CAN SCORE. Hv to look beyond deepti, he is 100 SR kind of player & can't score quickly

09:44 PM · Feb 23, 2023

60

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

विजय।।।🇮🇳🇮🇳@human12_vijay

@ICC Indians women always capable of finding ways to loose any match that is already won by them।। It's shame, I have followed a lot of such matches।

09:42 PM · Feb 23, 2023

70

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

Raja Msd@RajaMsd007

@ICC Deepthi worst batting in Indian team

09:45 PM · Feb 23, 2023

10

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

Masooq Jeffrey@jeffrey_masooq

@ICC Lost in the ODI WC final. Lost in the T20 WC Semi. Lost in the T20 WC final. Lost in the CWC final. Lost in the T20 WC Semi. Heart-break for Indian girls since 2017, so close as always 💔💔💔

09:47 PM · Feb 23, 2023

71

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

srisk@srisaahosk04

@ICC that's wr we lost but still well played India need to more improve on field while playing semis against #HarmanpreetKaur & #JemimahRodrigues great batting & Harman truly deserves applause

09:47 PM · Feb 23, 2023

11

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

om ojha@ojha_op

@ICC India gifted away the match from a winning position. A great opportunity missed.

09:46 PM · Feb 23, 2023

10

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

Yannaraskala@Ranjan_Ashish96

@ICC What New Zealand is to India's men's team, the Australian women's team is to India's women's team. Unwinnable💔

09:46 PM · Feb 23, 2023

00

ICC@ICC

Finest of margins. #T20WorldCup

abhi@Abhipandey4402

@ICC Lol I was not expecting even they will cross 160, because our girls can't handle pressure situation match like they gifted many runs in first inning and many wickets in when they were batting.. Like harmanpreet kaur did. There are many things which we lack.

09:45 PM · Feb 23, 2023

10

Roshan Rai@RoshanKrRaii

Harmanpreet Kaur : don't want my country to see my crying, hence I am wearing these glasses, I promise, we will improve and wont let out nation down like this again. What a statement from the Champ. #INDWvsAUSW

09:54 PM · Feb 23, 2023

35348

Jay Shah@JayShah

A tough loss for @BCCIWomen against Australia in the #ICCWomensT20WorldCup, but we couldn't be prouder of our girls for their spirit on the field. The team gave it their all & showed that they are true warriors. We stand with you, Women in Blue! #INDWvsAUSW

09:48 PM · Feb 23, 2023

1.8K139

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