"We Probably Had No Right To Win At One Point": Ashleigh Gardner On Australia's Victory Over India In The T20 World Cup Semifinal

Published - 24 Feb 2023, 01:16 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Ashleigh Gardner. Credits: Twitter

Ashleigh Gardner lavished praise on her players after the victory, claiming that Australia had proven why they are one of the finest teams in the world.
The Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal between India and Australia was thrilling, as the reigning champions held their composure to win by five runs. Throughout the contest, the pendulum swung back and forth, but in the end, Australia advanced to its sixth Women’s T20 World Cup final.

Australia made a strong start, with Healy and Mooney putting up 52 runs for the first wicket. India, on the other hand, did not let Australia run away with the game, holding the run rate under check. It appeared that India would be able to restrict Australia to about 160 runs, but Ashleigh Gardner’s blistering inning of 31 off 18 balls propelled the Lanning-led side to 172-4.

SHORTS

Your daily dose of cricket!

India then had the worst possible start, scoring only 15 runs amongst their top three batters, leaving the team in trouble at 21-3. However, a stunning counterattack by Jemimah Rodrigues (43 off 24) and Harmanpreet Kaur (52 off 34) gave India a decisive advantage.

IPL 2023 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs AUS 2023 | India vs Australia 2023

India was cruising to victory at 97-3 in the 11th over when Jemimah left the game. Harmanpreet persisted, but a strange run-out in the 15th over brought an end to her scorching knock. Australia eliminated India when only 34 runs could be scored by India in the final 32 balls.

“Everyone had probably written us off”: Ashleigh Gardner

Ashleigh Gardner noted after the game that the victory was “quite high” on Australia’s unrivalled list of successes.

“I think at the ten-over mark in India’s batting innings, everyone had probably written us off, but I think that just shows our character within our side and that’s why the best teams win in those types of positions,” Ashleigh Gardner said.

“What we speak about is when our backs are up against the wall, we always try and find a way, and today we probably had no right to win at one point there. They were cruising and then we found a way to get some wickets and ultimately came out on top” Ashleigh Gardner Added.

The defending champions had just defeated India by five runs in a nail-biting semifinal match.

Also Read: PSL 2023: Watch – Babar Azam Throws Bat In Anger During Peshwar Zalmi vs Islambad United Game