AUS-W vs IND-W, CWG 2022 Final: Australia snatches Gold from India's jaws by 9 runs

Australia thumped India in the Grand Finale of the Commonwealth Games 2022 by a meagre 9-run margin to claim gold at Edgbaston, Birmingham. 

India wins silver after losing to Australia in Final

India again narrowly missed out on securing the prize in the final of the multilateral event. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Australia gathered 161 for the loss of 8 wickets after the end of their allotted 20 overs. Beth Mooney scored a crucial 61(41), hitting eight fours, along with Meg Lanning, 36 (26), who got run-out courtesy of Radha Yadav.

Aussies started quickly with the bat, but some brilliance from India in the field ensured they stayed limited to a score just above par. India's efforts helped them hand Australia a collapse in the later stage of the game, losing five wickets for just 36 runs. Sneh Rana and Renuka Singh scalped two wickets each, whereas Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav got one a piece.

Harmanpreet's classic in vain

With all the hopes of achieving their first ever title in cricket history, India came to bat in pursuit of 162. However, losing early wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma inside three overs with 22 on the board, Women in Blue looked in deep trouble.

Under immense pressure, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues stitched a 96-run stand to help India reach 118 when the latter fell to Megan Schutt for 33 in the 15th over of the game.

Harmanpreet's brilliant knock of 65 from 43 deliveries which included two sixes and seven fours, gave India much-needed hope to race to the target, but plans went invariably short when Ashleigh Gardner dismissed her on the fifth ball of the 16th over. 

Her dismissal caused a flurry of wickets, with India losing the next six inside another three and a half overs for just 31 runs. The final wicket fell on the score of 152, causing India to lose the match by nine runs and handing Australia gold.

Brief Scores:

Australia Women: 161/8 (20)

Beth Mooney 61(41), Meg Lanning 36(26);
Renuka Singh 2/25 (4), Sneh Rana 2/38 (4)

India Women: 152/10 (19.3)

Harmanpreet Kaur 65 (43), Jemimah Rodrigues 33(33);
Ashleigh Gardner 3/16 (3), Megan Schutt 2/27 (4)

Match Result: Australia Women won by 9 runs.

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