New Delhi:
India's semifinal hopes suffered a major jolt after Australia notched up a comfortable eight-wicket win, riding on a superb show by their top-order batswoman in the ICC Women's World Cup.
Put into bat, opener Punam Raut's fighting century and a69 from record-breaking skipper Mithali Raj enabled India to post a decent 226 for seven in their sixth group league encounter.
However, Australia overhauled the target with 29 balls to spare, scoring 227 for two, courtesy some fantastic batting display by skipper Meg Lanning (76 not out) and Ellyse Perry(60 not out).
The Indian team is taking on a formidable Australian side in a pool match at the ICC Women's World Cup at Bristol, England. Australian captain Meg Lanning won the toss and decided to bowl first in seam friendly overcast conditons. The Indian team registered a below par 226 total on board after they were put into bat by Australian captain Meg Lanning. Opener Punam Raut scored a century and skipper Mithali Raj complimented her well with a half century.
Here are the Live match updates:
#Bolton, Mooney bring up their 50 in the 13th overs
#Bolton, Mooney give Australia steady start
#Bolton, Mooney come out to open for Australia
#India would feel that they are 30-40 runs short given the fact they were cruising at one stage
#India has ended up with 226 in their 50 overs
#Indian wickets continue to fall like a pack of cards as Jhulan Goswami falls for a duck to Perry
#Sushma Verma and Jhulan Goswami would like to finish the innings with a flourish
#India have lost their way in this encounter after Poonam Rawat and Mithali Raj put together a solid partnership
# Veda Krishnamurthy gets run out for a duck
#India bring up their 200 in the 46th over
#Mithali Raj gets out for 69
#Poonam Raut scores a blistering hundred
#Mithali Raj becomes the leading run scorer in women's ODI cricket
#Mithali Raj and Poonam Raut have stitched a good partnership to take India past 50
#Poonam Raut and Mithali Raj would need to occupy the crease and rebuild for India
#Skipper Mithali Raj comes into bat
#Mithali Raj comes out in the middle to bat
#Gardner scalps opener Mandhana
#Megan Schutt opens the Australian pace attack
#Smirit Mandhana and Poonam Raut come out to open for India
#Mithali Raj: "We were looking to bat first because of the concerns in the top order. But it's good we got to bat; there's no pressure. In the previous editions, there were teams who were weaker, so you could make up your run rate. We are going with the same side."
# Meg Lanning: "We are gonna have a bowl; overcast conditions. Hopefully we can take a few early wickets and put India under pressure. Bowling has done a good job for us, so looking forward to bouncing back. We are going with the same team."
#India Women (Playing XI): Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Sushma Verma(w), Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav
#Australia Women (Playing XI): Beth Mooney, Nicole Bolton, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning(c), Elyse Villani, Alex Blackwell, Alyssa Healy(w), Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Kristen Beams
# Australia win toss, opts to bowl
India Women (From): Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Sushma Verma(w), Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Mona Meshram, Mansi Joshi, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Nuzhat Parween
Australia Women (From): Beth Monney, Nicole Bolton, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning(c), Elyse Villani, Alex Blackwell, Alyssa Healy(w), Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Kristen Beams, Sarah Aley, Rachael Haynes, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda Wellington
Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup 2017: India to lock horns against Australia with eye on semifinal berth
