India wins silver after losing to Australia in Commonwealth women’s cricket final

India won silver after losing to Australia by 9 runs in the Commonwealth games women’s cricket final. Australia won the title after breaking billions of hearts in a last over thriller at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Chasing 162 runs, India needed 11 runs to win with just two wickets remaining in the last over. But with two wickets falling in the first three balls, India lost by nine runs and had to settle for the silver medal.

Batting first, Australia scored 161 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. Beth Mooney was the top scorer with 61 runs off 41 balls. A 78-run partnership between Mooney and captain Meg Lanning (36) was crucial to the Aussies’ victory. Pacer Renuka Singh conceded 25 runs and took two wickets for India.

India lost both openers, Smriti Mandana (6) and Shefali Verma (11) early on. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s brilliant innings of 65 off 43 balls later gave hope to India. However, as no one else in the team really shined and unexpected loss of wickets contributed to India’s defeat. India were all out for 152 runs in 19.3 overs.

India’s only defeat in the group stage was against Australia. India lost to Aussies in the last T20 World Cup final as well.