Cricket world in disbelief over 'freak' moment in Aussie win over India

Harmanpreet Kaur was reduced to tears and hurled her bat in disgust after a freak runout against Australia cost India deerly in their T20 World Cup semi-final. The Aussies advanced to their seventh-straight T20 World Cup final after beating India by five runs in a dramatic clash on Thursday.

India appeared to be heading towards a major upset when Kaur was on 52 off just 34 balls. The India captain combined well with Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 24 balls), however their dismissals turned the tide back in Australia's favour.

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Kaur was run out in freakish fashion when she appeared to comfortably complete two runs after hitting the ball to the outfield. However replays showed that her bat had jammed into the turf before the crease, with Alyssa Healy whipping off the bails to find Kaur short of her ground.

Kaur hurled her bat across the field in disgust as she walked off, and was later seen in tears. Richa Ghosh was dismissed not long after as Australia took hold of the match.

Jess Jonassen and Ash Gardner (whose throw ran out Kaur) defended 20 runs off the final two overs as Australia won by five runs. Elysse Perry also produced an incredible save on the boundary in the penultimate over that slowed India's fightback when the momentum looked like swinging again.

Kaur later admitted that she had defied illness to play in the game and that she was not feeling well during her fighting innings of 52. The captain was left distraught over the manner in which she'd been dismissed.

"I can't feel unluckier than this," Kaur said at the post-match presentation. "There was momentum when Jem and I were batting.

“It was definitely a disappointment because the way I was batting, maybe that was the only chance I could get out. Otherwise, the way I was hitting the ball, I was taking this innings until the end.

"Even after losing wickets we knew we had a good batting line-up. We wanted to fight until the last ball. We fought in this tournament and we played some really good cricket."

India needed 40 off 32 balls when Kaur was dismissed, with India unable to pull off an extraordinary upset over the all-conquering Australians. Cricket fans and commentators were left gutted for Kaur.

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Australia made 4-172 while batting first thanks to 54 from Beth Mooney and 49 not out from Meg Lanning. India needed 16 runs from the final over, but could only manage 10.

“Bowling the last over, I reckon my average heart rate was 190 to be honest with you,” Gardner, who also made 31 off 18 with the bat, said after the match. “We probably weren‘t in a winning position … but that’s what this team does well, we find a way, and I think the fight we showed, shows the character of this team.

“We know they are really handy batters all the way down … and in the later stages with ball in hand for me it was just about trying to hit the wicket and not give them any freebies.”

Aussie captain Lanning described it as “one of the best games I have played in”. She added: “This is a team that stands up in tough moments. It puts us in good stead for the final.”

The win means the Aussies have qualified for their seventh-successive final at T20 World Cups, having won five of the previous six. They will play the winners of Friday's second semi-final between England and South Africa in the decider at Newlands on Sunday.

with agencies

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