Women's T20 tri-series: Megan Schutt takes hat-trick as Australia knock out India
Mumbai: Harmanpreet Kaur-led India women's cricket team bowed out of the Women's T20 Tri-series on Monday as they suffered a 36-run defeat to Meg Lanning's Australia at the Brabourne stadium here.
The hosts, coming into the match with two losses out of two games, had to win this match in order to stay alive in the tournament.
India won the toss and put Australia to bat first. Pooja Vastrakar provided India with an early breakthrough as she dismissed Alyssa Healy (9) and Ashleigh Gardner (17). However, Beth Mooney (71) and Elyse Villani (61) put-up a 114-run stand to ensure the visitors of posting a total of 200 or more.
The partnership was soon halted as Poonam Yadav, Jhulan Goswami and Radha Yadav took the wickets of Vilani, Mooney and Ellyse Perry respectively.
India suffered an early blow in the run chase as they lost Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj in the second over as Megan Schutt removed them in two consecutive balls.
Schutt completed a hat-trick as she came back to bowl in the fifth over of the innings, dismissing Deepti Sharma in the very first ball.
That hat-trick feeling! 🙌 @megan_schutt #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/jTjSkAiQkM
— Australian Women's Cricket Team ðŸ (@SouthernStars) March 26, 2018
Jemimah Rodrigues, however, played a confident knock of 50 but got dismissed to Delissa Kimmince in the 13th over.
The hosts' woes seemed to continue as captain Harmanpreet Kaur (33) also fell victim to Ashleigh Gardner.
Australia will play England on Wednesday, whereas India will look to sign-off the tri-series with a consolation win as they face England on Thursday.
