BREAKING | July 4, 2026 | Cricket
A packed Lord’s Cricket Ground. India’s highest-ever total against Australia at a Women’s T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur’s fastest-ever fifty in this tournament. And still, it was not enough. Australia beat India by six wickets at Lord’s, chasing down 171 — the biggest target in women’s T20 World Cups — with an over to spare. Ellyse Perry struck 56 and Ash Gardner finished unbeaten on 53. For the second consecutive T20 World Cup, India failed to make the knockouts after losing their last group game to Australia.
With the result, Australia topped Group 1 and advance to face West Indies in the semi-finals. South Africa, who beat Bangladesh on the same day, finish second and will face hosts England.
Harmanpreet Kaur produced the innings of her World Cup campaign — too late, and just short. She hoisted a six over long off to bring up her 50 in 25 balls, recording the fastest half-century by an Indian woman at a Women’s T20 World Cup. It was one of three successive sixes she hit off Molineux in the final over. India finished with a flourish, amassing 36 runs in the last two overs to post 170.
Mandhana and Shafali provided a solid 66-run opening stand. But once both openers were dismissed, the middle order struggled to maintain momentum.
Perry and Gardner dismantled India’s bowling with calm authority. Australia needed 62 from the last six overs and the experienced pair delivered. Gardner smashed a four and six off consecutive deliveries, Perry brought up her 33-ball fifty, and Australia cruised home with six balls remaining.
For India, the questions will be loud and uncomfortable over the coming weeks. The reigning ODI champions are out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage for the second successive time. The batting depth, the death-over bowling, the dropped catches against Bangladesh, and the inability to defend or chase totals against the world’s top teams — all of these must be addressed before the next World Cup cycle begins.
Harmanpreet gave India’s best performance of the tournament on the day it was needed most — and it still was not enough. That is the painful, honest summary of India Women’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
All match data sourced from ESPNcricinfo and Sky Sports as of June 28, 2026.
