CWG 2022: Gold goes to Aussies as India women choke in T20 final | Commonwealth Games 2022 News – Times of India

For the second time in this tournament, India lost to Australia, who have now added the CWG gold to their glittering cupboard. India would be proud of the way they played at Edgbaston, but they would know that deep inside, they deserved a gold and not just the silver that they had to eventually contend with.
Chasing 162, India seemed to be coasting to the target when skipper Harmanpret Kaur (65; 43b, 7×4, 2×6) and Jemimah Rodrigues (33; 33b, 3×4) put together a magnificent 96-run stand for the third wicket in just 73 balls to help them overcome the setback of losing their openers early.

However, once Rodrigues was castled by Megan Schutt in the 15th over with the score at 118/2, India’s batting came down like a pack of cards.
Within three runs, India lost three wickets as Ashleigh Gardener (25 & 3/16) took the wickets of Vastrakar (1) and Harmanpreet, who was caught by wicketkeeper Alysaa Healy while trying to play a lap shot.

McGrath controversially plays despite testing Covid positive
Earlier, the final was afflicted by a major controversy when the organisers allowed Australia’s key batter Tahlia McGrath to play despite her testing positive for Covid-19. The game was delayed by 10 minutes due to this confusion. Having denied tennis superstar Novak Djokovic a chance to compete in the Australian Open In January this year as he wasn’t vaccinated, Australia came under fire from many on social media for playing a Covid-struck player.
India had a good day in the field. Clearly, the occasion of a big final seemed to have fired them up to produce what must easily be their best-ever fielding performance.

Pulling off two brilliant run outs and two incredible catches, India did well to keep Australia to 161/8. The total was built around a free-flowing knock by Beth Mooney (61; 41b, 8×4). Mooney and skipper Meg Lanning (36; 26b, 5×4, 1×6) added 74 for the second wicket in just 47 balls as Australia, after having opted to bat first, looked set to launch into a big score.
Fielding as if their lives depended on this game, and bowling decently, India spoiled the death overs for the Southern Stars, who managed to get just 36 in their last five overs, while losing five wickets.

SCORES: Australia Women 161/8 in 20 overs (Mooney 61, Renuka 2/25) beat India Women 152 in 19. 3 overs (Harmanpreet 65; Gardner 3/16, Schutt 2/27) by 9 runs