India fail to qualify for semi-finals after loss to Australia

The Indian cricket team crashed out of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after Australia beat them by six wickets in their last Group 1 match at Lord's, London, on Sunday.

Fifties from Ellyse Perry (56 off 38) and Ashleigh Gardner (53 not out off 29) helped Australia chase down a 171-run target with an over to spare. Harmanpreet Kaur was India’s top scorer with a 27-ball 56.

Only the top two teams from each group advanced to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals and India's defeat left them outside the qualification places despite winning three of their five group-stage matches.

After electing to bat, India posted 170/4, with Indian T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur leading the way with a brisk fifty.

Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid a platform with a 66-run stand before Verma fell for 34.

Mandhana made 38 but was run out following a mix-up. Harmanpreet then shared a 64-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, who retired hurt in the 19th over with India on 147/3.

India then managed to score 23 runs off the final over, with Harmanpreet smashing Sophie Molineux for three straight sixes and set Australia a competitive chase.

With six-time champions chasing 171 to win, India's bowlers kept Australia in check early in the chase, reducing them to 68/3 by dismissing Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll by the 10th over.

However, Ellyse Perry swung the momentum with a composed fifty before Ashleigh Gardner launched a late assault as they combined to put on a 100-run stand to take Australia near the finish line. Both Perry and Gardner scored half-centuries.

Georgia Wareham then struck a four to score the winning runs for Australia to guide them into the semi-finals and send India crashing out of the T20 World Cup.

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