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Perry stars as Australia knock India out of World Cup / Photo: © AFP
Perry stars as Australia knock India out of World Cup
Ellyse Perry starred as Australia knocked India out of the Women's T20 World Cup with a six-wicket group stage-win at Lord's on Sunday.
South Africa's nervous four-wicket win over Bangladesh at Lord's earlier in the day left India needing to defeat unbeaten Group A leaders Australia in order to reach the knockout stages.
India were well-placed while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur -- one of the best ball-strikers in the women's game -- was making 56 off just 26 balls.
Roared on by a partisan crowd, including India superstar Virat Kohli, Kaur's team scored 36 runs in the last two overs to finish on 170-4 and leave Australia needing to achieve a new record chase in any Women's T20 World Cup to preserved their unblemished record.
Australia were faltering at 68-3 in the 10th over before Perry, one of the greats of women's cricket, and all-rounder Ash Gardner combined for a superb stand of 100 from 59 balls to take their side to the brink of victory.
Perry made 56 before being dismissed with three runs needed as Gardner finished on 53 not out.
Australia, long a superpowers of the women's game, will now be huge favourites when they play West Indies in the first semi-final at the Oval on Tuesday.
Unbeaten tournament hosts England face South Africa in the second semi-final, also at the Oval, on Thursday with the final at Lord's on Sunday.
Earlier, South Africa just about retained their composure in pursuit of a lowly target of 118 against Bangladesh.
Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt fell to the first ball of the chase, bowled by a Marufa Aktar inswinger and when Dane van Niekerk was lbw for three, South Africa were 59-3 at the halfway stage.
Annerie Dercksen threatened to win the game for South Africa until she edged behind for 45 in the 15th over.
The runs then started to dry up.
Marizanne Kapp was run out for 16 and Nadine de Klerk was caught at deep mid-wicket with five runs still needed before Chloe Tryon edged a four and cleared the off-side to seal victory with four balls to spare.
But there was no denying South Africa's quality in the field, with Kapp bowling Juairiya Ferdous with the first ball of the match.
Sobhana Mostary's 42 kept the Proteas at bay, with Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana making 32 not out but the Tigers were still held to just 117-5 in 20 overs.
E. da Cruz--JDB
