AUS Women vs India (W), 1st Semi-Final at Cape Town, WT20 WC, Feb 23 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

6.13pm "One of our best wins," says Lanning, which sums up really how good this game was. A classic T20 World Cup fixture which leaves with one team in tears and another jubilant. Let's hope tomorrow's semi-final between England and South Africa proves to be as exciting. Congratulations Australia and chin up, India! Thanks all for your company.

Winning captain Lanning: (Tense finish) It was. One of the best wins I've been involved in, to fight back after not playing the best cricket in all three facets. We missed our lengths and gave some width. India came hard at us, so we knew this score would've been hard to defend. But we pulled through in the clutch moments. Got nervous couple of times. But we knew playing against these guys, that you need to stay in the game to get over the line. Kaur was unfortunate. I think we are able to stay calm and composed, we didn't panic even when we weren't bowling well. These are the kind of games we want to win. Can't wait to get here for the final."

Losing captain Harmanpreet: "Can't feel unluckier than this. We got the momentum back with Jemi. To lose from here, we weren't expecting this. (Tears - why?) The way I got run out, can't be unluckier than that. Putting the effort was important and we were happy to go to the last ball. We wanted to fight till the last ball. Today we wanted to chase too, so that was fine when they chose to bat. Even after losing first two wickets, we knew we had a good batting line-up. I should give credit to Jemimah, she gave us the momentum. Happy to see some good performances. (Overall) We played some good cricket. Today was something where we wanted to play our natural game. Few of us did that. (Errors in the field) We again gave some easy catches away. When you have to win, you have to take your chances. We can only learn from these."

RebelsView: "Is anyone going to talk about that Wide!!! It could have been last ball with 4 needed. "

6.18pm Stick around for the presentations. Still feeling for Harmanpreet though. Playing through sickness, and falling in that manner after hitting a half-century. One small criticism was that she was running that second very slowly, but given her physical condition, it made sense for her to rein her energy in. She would've made the second run had that bat not got stuck but would've made it well in time had she kept her sprinting pace high. That she didn't, allowing for luck to creep in, and luck really came back to bite them.

Ankit: "The inevitable is now a reality. Panic from ghosh cost India the match. I am sure Harman told her to stay till end. No way India loses this game had gosh been there in the last over even with 20 to get. " -- She is still a teenager and a match winner. Happens!

JohnT : "Oh !!!!!! That final ball Six !!!!!!"

Mani: "Perry you beauty. One of the greatest all rounder of all time.Today she showed in field one can influence the result."

Hamza: "Don't worry ladies, life is all about opportunities. Excellent fight . Looking for Eng Vs aus final . But you know we all know Aus will win " -- South Africa may have something to say about that.

6.15pm Australia with the great escape, you'd have to think. Ash Gardner is the Player of the Match for her all-round show, 31 and two wickets: "Last over, my heart rate was about 190 (laughs). That's how we fight as a team. That's what we spoke at the huddle after the match. We weren't in a winning position, but we find a way, we scrap hard, and we win. We set the game up well with the bat, missed a few with the ball....showed character. (Lanning said what?) Was clear on what we wanted to execute. India have handy batters down the line up. With ball in hand, it was about trying to hit the wicket and not give freebies. Want to take confidence into the final."

Pulkit Mathur: "Not taking anything away from Australia but India threw this match away. That run-out changed everything. It seems the "StigmAustralia" continues in women's cricket."

Shashi: "Good fight from India. But ultimately the difference proved out to be the expensive bowling in the end and some casual fielding compared to the tight efforts from the Aussie girls. Something to look at improving before the next tournament."

6.13pm Another knock-out match. Another heartbreak for India. Before the game, experts said that if any team could beat this Australia side, it was India. And they very nearly did. With 10 overs to go, India had the advantage, but then Rodrigues fell trying to ramp Brown, followed by Harmanpreet's awkward run out, and after those two body blows, they simply could not recover. There will be lot of what-ifs that India will think about as they shake hands with Australia. But credit to Rodrigues and Kaur to make a match of it. Their top three scored only 15 runs among them, and if it wasn't for the two experienced middle-order batters, this could've been a blowout.

There will also be questions asked of India in the field - two dropped catches of Mooney and Lanning allowed the two Aussies to pounce on the advantage. And of course, the expensive last five overs where India conceded 61.

Australia. What a team. Always successfully fighting back. Now to put the finishing touches. They are still discussing field placements. That's how clinical they are.

India need atleast a four. And the keeper goes back again, protecting the bye runs.

Renuka with her hands on her head. She must be thinking about the 18 she conceded in the 20th over. Richa looks very sad too.

Kaur turns her back to the action. She can't look anymore. Short third in place.

12 off 4.

15 for a super over. 14 and under, and Australia make their seventh T20 World Cup final in a row. Deepti on strike. Non-striker is Radha. Harmanpreet is with Harleen, they are looking at the action with hope. Gardner around the stumps.

Bhalchandra : "Indian players needs to believe in themselve. Look at Australia, they never give up in any situation. Keep fighting girls till the last ball"

19 off 11.

Simple equation. India need 20 off 12. They conceded 30 off their last 12. Jonassen, left-arm spin.

Rodrigues is no longer looking at the action. Hiding her face inside her shirt while the ball is being bowled.

JB: "Someone keep an eye on Deepti Sharma backing up."