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The Gabba (Brisbane), Dec 17 (IANS) Left-handed batter Travis Head's emphatic unbeaten 78 helped Australia get a marginal edge over South Africa on the opening day of the first Test, here on Saturday.

After South Africa were knocked over for 152 on the stroke of tea, Australia found themselves in the same strife and were reeling at 27 for 3 before Head's blazing knock and his 117-run fourth-wicket stand between with Steven Smith, took them to 5-145 at stumps.

It would have been a more emphatic advantage to the hosts had Smith and night watch Scott Boland not lost their wickets in the final two overs as Proteas quick Anrich Nortje pushed above 150kph.

Beginning the day, Australia's opening bowlers were wayward upfront, often bowling too short and unable to maintain a consistent line. However, they still got rewards as Mitchell Starc got rid of Elgar with a down the leg side delivery and Pat Cummins forced Rassie van der Dussen to nick off the ball.

But it was Scott Boland, who really rocked South Africa. He had Erwee caught low down by Cameron Green in the gully and in the same over had Khaya Zondo lbw to a delivery that hit him on the back pad, reducing South Africa to 27 for 4.

From there on, the responsibility was on Bavuma and Verreynne to bail out visitors from the trouble and they did that to an extent. Their 98-run stand was built on Verreynne's aggression against the short ball and Bavuma's patience but that ended when Starc returned for a third spell to remove Bavuma.

Verreynne brought up his fifty but he didn't get support from the lower order batters as South Africa went on to lose five wickets for 20 runs in 52 balls, including three to Nathan Lyon, who removed Marco Jansen, Verreynne and Anrich Nortje. In between, Starc picked up his 299th Test wicket when he set Keshav Maharaj up with a bouncer and then had him caught at slip off a full ball.

After getting bowled out for a low total, South Africa's bowlers kept them in the contest with statement opening spells. Kagiso Rabada started with a snorter of a short ball to dismiss David Warner.

Jansen too struck with his first ball and had Marnus Labuschagne stuck in the crease and caught at second slip. In the next over, Nortje got rid of Usman Khawaja.

But, Head played his natural fast-scoring game and raced to a 48-ball fifty. On the other hand, Smith also provided steady support before he was bowled by Nortje with less than five minutes to the close.Boland was sent in as nightwatcher and lasted only four deliveries before he edged Rabada to Verreynne.

Brief scores: Australia 145/5 (Travis Head 78 not out; Anrich Nortje 2-37, Kagiso Rabada 2-50) trail South Africa 152 (Kyle Verreynne 64; Nathan Lyon 3-14, Mitchell Starc 3-41) by 7 runs.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The T20 cricket icons Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, along with Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, RP Singh, Eoin Morgan, and Scott Styris will headline JioCinemas -- official digital rights holder -- expert panel for the IPL 2023 Player Auction, to be held on December 23 in Kochi.

Mainly known as Mr. IPL for his success with four-time winners Chennai Super Kings, ex-India left-handed batter Raina will headline the Hindi coverage alongside Uttar Pradesh state-mate and former India left-arm pacer Singh.

"I am coming back to the IPL armed with a mike in hand. It is exciting to be a part of the TATA IPL Player Auction 2023 along with my friends and former teammates and engage with fans across India," said Raina in an official release.

Gayle, commonly known as Universe Boss and de Villiers, famous for bringing 360-style of cricket T20s, will reunite for the Player Auction to present their views on the picks made by all ten franchises on December 23.

"This is as thrilling as it gets to return to the IPL in a different avatar with my former teammates and competitors for the auction. I hope to get the same love from the fans in my new role where I will do some talking and not my bat," added Gayle.

India is a very special place and to come back to the IPL in a new avatar with JioCinema will be an intriguing prospect. I hope fans enjoy and appreciate my work with a mic in hand in tow with these luminaries," stated de Villiers.

Kumble, the former India leg-spinner and head coach, will be present alongside Uthappa, a member of three previous IPL winning sides. Kumble was replaced by Trevor Bayliss as head coach of Punjab Kings after the side failed to enter IPL 2022 playoffs under him.

"After playing, and coaching in the IPL, I look forward to being an expert panellist for the 2023 auction on JioCinema. In the company of the most reputed names from league's history, I am sure viewers will be offered well-rounded and incisive coverage," said Kumble.

Morgan, England's 2019 ODI World Cup winning skipper and Styris, the former New Zealand all-rounder will be part of the English panel that will also bring in-depth narratives like never before in the lead-up to the player auction that will see 405 cricketers going under the hammer.

"I'm glad to join this league of extraordinary gentlemen for the TATA IPL Player Auction 2023. With some of the sharpest minds of cricket dissecting the event, I reckon the fans are in for a treat at this auction," said Morgan.

The panel will be part of an array of shows to keep fans engaged and excited for the IPL Player Auction 2023, including an in-house mock auction a day before the main event. The IPL Player Auction will be broadcasted to viewers in India across six languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam, on JioCinema.

Earlier this year, Viacom18, under which JioCinema operates, shelled out INR 23,758 crore to claim digital rights (packages B & C) for the Indian subcontinent for IPL media rights 2023-27. Viacome18 further won the Australia, South Africa and United Kingdom rights for the same period.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) Australia women's team head coach Shelley Nitschke has heaped praise on India's progression in the cricketing circuit, saying that the country's growth has been nothing short of phenomenal, especially in the last five years.

India women's cricket team came firmly under limelight when they finished as runners-up in the 2017 ODI World Cup, and even defeated Australia in the semi-final. They went on to be runners-up in the 2020 T20 World Cup and took the silver medal in the Women's T20 Cricket event at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

"When I first played against India in the 2005 World Cup (won by Australia), and they made the final, I think that was sort of the start of a real growth period for them and they just seem to get better and better. I think in the last probably four or five years they've had a real acceleration."

We see how aggressive they are with their batting. They've got some great young players, they're athletic in the field, so I think their growth has been phenomenal, particularly in the last five years and we're seeing that in this series and it's exactly what we expected from them and their home country," said Shelley ahead of the fourth T20I at Brabourne Stadium.

Of late, India have been a tough opponent to face for Australia, like when the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side defeated them in the 2020 T20 World Cup opening match or ending their unbeaten 26-match winning streak in ODIs in 2021 or more recently, ending their unbeaten run in 2022 with a thrilling Super Over encounter in the second of five T20Is at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

"I think what Shafali (Verma) said is true (on India relishing facing off against Australia), we do notice that when we play India, they certainly play to their potential and really challenge us. I think Shafali has been one that we've seen grow over the years and is certainly having a really good series and … to see Richa Ghosh out there as well in this series, it certainly bodes well for the future for India."

It also pushes our group as well, it challenges us. I think they've contested like we knew they would. They're a good team. They play tough cricket (and) it's tough conditions in India. It's been a really tight battle so far and it's good to be 2-1 ahead but there's two really important games to go," added Shelley.

After the Super Over loss, Australia bounced back in the series with a 21-run win in third T20I at Brabourne and currently lead the series 2-1. Saturday's match presents them to have a chance to seal a series win.

The coach acknowledged that there have been changes in the eleven due to injury and illness in the camp, but feels defending 172 in third T20I will boost the confidence of bowlers in the build-up to the T20 World Cup in South Africa next year.

"We probably didn't defend that well with the ball in the second game. To be able to defend that total (on Wednesday when) we felt like there were a few more runs out there, I think that was a really good confidence booster for our attack, especially because we've had a different attack for the first three games," Shelley said.

"They should take a lot of confidence out of that. I think they bowled much better lines out here in the third game so it was a really good effort from our bowling group for sure. We've had a few injuries and illness along the way, which has forced those changes, but it also gives us an opportunity to have a look at some things moving into the World Cup," she concluded.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) Teenaged India opener Shafali Verma will appear in her 50th T20I match when the hosts take on Australia in the fourth match of the five-game series at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.

In the series till now, the visitors have been aggressive and dominating in various departments, leading to them taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Shafali revealed that she enjoys squaring off against Australia as they often make her feel like she is playing against a men's team.

"When I play against Australia, it feels like I'm playing against men, because their game is like that. If they see a small mistake that you are making, they will take advantage of it. So we have to be on top of our game against them," said Shafali ahead of the fourth T20I.

The Rohtak-based youngster is aware that one can't afford to take a wrong step against Australia, who are current holders of ODI and T20 World Cups.

"You can't make mistakes against them. You have to play your best shots, which you are confident about. I learnt a lot while playing against Australia. I love playing against them. Aisa lagta hai ki ladkon ke sath hi khel rahe hain (it seems you are playing against a men's team)," she said.

The 18-year-old has already played 13 T20Is against Australia, and has scored 283 runs, at an average of 21.76, with her first fifty against them coming in a 21-run loss in the third T20I on Wednesday. In that match, Shafali hit 52 and shared a 73-run stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. But in a bid to go big, Shafali fell and from there, the Indian challenge nosedived.

"When I hit a four (against the Aussies), I get boosted, and feel that I've improved as a player, because Australia is the best side (in women's cricket). I'm always happy when I hit (boundaries) off the Australian (bowlers). I don't get so much happiness when I hit boundaries against England or any other team," said Shafali.

"We were playing well, but the situation was such that we had to take risks. We were 30 runs behind, and that situation demanded that you had to go for shots if there was a loose ball. That shot usually goes for six, but on that day, unfortunately I lost my wicket," she added.

The opener also noted that the pitch at Brabourne Stadium is different to the one they played in the first two matches at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

"This wicket is not similar to the one at the DY Patil Stadium. Bowlers are generating good swing on this wicket, but we really can't give excuses. We are working on the singles under the guidance of the batting coach. Day by day, we are improving," she concluded.

--IANS

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Chattogram, Dec 17 (IANS) Left-handed opening duo of Najmul Hossain Shanto and debutant Zakir Hasan registered half-centuries as Bangladesh reached 119/0 at lunch and trail India by 394 runs on day four of first Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, here on Saturday.

On a pitch which seems to have slowed down greatly, India did find some turn and bounce, but it was insufficient to avoid a wicketless session. Shanto (64 not out) and Hasan (55 not out) showed tremendous application, resolve and patience to frustrate the Indian bowling attack and rendered them ineffective.

Resuming from 42/0 in 12 overs, Shanto began day four with back-to-back boundaries off Mohammed Siraj through an off-drive and flick through backward square leg, which also brought the fifty of the opening partnership.

Siraj got to beat Shanto on a few occasions, while Ravichandran Ashwin found the inside-edge of the left-handed batters. But a breakthrough still eluded India as debutant Zakir Hasan slashed through backward point off Umesh Yadav for a boundary.

Zakir then brought the shot of the session, going inside-out over cover off Ashwin. It prompted the off-spinner to change his plan as he switched to bowling from over the wicket and found the turn immediately to beat the outer edge of Shanto.

Shanto reached his fifty with a nudge through the off-side off Ashwin, and brought the century of the partnership with a fierce pull off Siraj through backward square leg.

Zakir, on the other hand, brought out the sweep against Kuldeep Yadav, before dancing down the pitch and whipping Axar Patel through mid-wicket, following it up by reaching his fifty on debut. He would again sweep off Kuldeep, before surviving an lbw appeal off Axar as Bangladesh got the session in their favour.

Brief Scores: India 404 in 133.5 overs and 258/2 declared in 61.4 overs (Shubman Gill 110; Khaled Ahmed 1/51) lead Bangladesh 150 all out in 55.5 overs and 119/0 in 42 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 64 not out, Zakir Hasan 55 not out) by 394 runs

--IANS

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By Armstrong Vaz
Doha, Dec 17 (IANS) Argentinian trio Lucas Ledezma, Leandro Blanco Pighi, and Silvio Gatti, set out on the cycling journey of a lifetime from South Africa to Qatar in May this year to attend the FIFA World Cup and to see Lionel Messi and Scaloneta hold aloft the glittering trophy on Sunday at Lusail Stadium.


For the author, teacher and content producer trio - one of three goals of the grueling and challenging trip was to see Argentina and Messi winning the trophy, which is just a match away.

The trio, who spent 177 days on the road covering 10,000 km and 15 countries between Cape Town and Doha, was joined by Matias Vercesi in Egypt but again has been reduced to a trio with travel agent Silvio heading to Australia, after watching a few matches due to work commitments.

"We want to get to Messi. We are Lucas, Silvio and Lea and we are giving it all for the Scaloneta. We travel by bike to Qatar, crossing Africa and the Middle East. We started in South Africa and we want to see Messi caress the trophy.

"The Odyssey has 3 goals: Get to Qatar to look for the trophy next to the Scaloneta, record a documentary, plant a tree for every km travelled and let Scaloneta, AFA Seleccion and Leo Messi know the whole story," the group, wrote on their Instagram page.

The cyclists have been fortunate to travel around Qatar on their bicycles exploring each and every part of Qatar and also fortunate to be handed tickets for each and every match of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar by the Argentina Football Federation except the final.

The ticket road to the final for the cyclists has hit a roadblock and now they are desperately looking for the match tickets and knocking on all doors. They have been caught by a bigger storm much more then what obstacles they encountered on the road trip to Qatar on their bicycles.

"Yes, we are looking for tickets, we do not have tickets for the final match, can you help us with people who can help with the tickets," requested Leandro.

They trio are not the only ones looking for final match day tickets; hundreds of Argentina football fans gathered outside FIFA's main ticketing office on Friday with hopes of obtaining the final match tickets at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium.

Fans of the two-time world champions are upset by the lack of ticket availability on FIFA's official sale and resale platforms.

On Thursday, Argentina fans staged a demonstration outside a Doha hotel demanding that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) help them to get tickets for the World Cup final, the protests which continued on Friday.

With FIFA warning that resale of tickets should be done only through the official platforms several thousand tickets have been sold illegally, throughout the World Cup and for the final, as well.

Supporters said the cheapest official tickets are selling on underground markets for more than $4,000 and negotiations are being held on a multitude of WhatsApp groups.

Final tickets of face value of $750 are sold for $4,000 with the most expensive ones as listed by FIFA at $5,850, are being offered for more than $14,000, quoting prices up to eight times the face value of tickets.

Fathom this discussion on one of the groups.

"(4) final tickets, Category 4, block 564, tickets seated together, 3 transferable 1 login will be provided. 12,000 Qr each, Those are for a friend, who's interested let me know so I could connect you with him."

Here one man who was upset and spoke his mind on what was happening and people being taken for a ride by the resellers.

"I had tickets and sold them to my friends at the price I bought them for not one penny more. You could say demand is there and try to sell your tickets for 40 k. Why not? But who in their right mind would buy... any ways good luck selling your tickets guess you really need the money. Greed was something I always found ugly. What annoyed me most was your comment February prices that was B...S..."

"Well prices have increased resale 10fold of hotels, It's the same concept... with demand... price increases," justified one seller.

"Your ticket prices have nothing to do with hotel prices. You making money as a reseller fine. But don't B...S... people. You are trying to justify your greed. Selling category 4 at seriously shitty price people spending that amount of money will go for hospitality tickets..."

And at times the discussion took a funny turn with one asking: "Can we play during the match along with Messi with this price... please check seller... I think it's possible."

--IANS
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Doha (Qatar), Dec 12 (IANS) Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared to acknowledge that his dream of winning the World Cup with Portugal is over after the team's elimination from football's showpiece tournament in Qatar.

Portugal were denied a berth in the semifinals after they suffered a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Morocco in Doha on Saturday.

"Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career," Ronaldo said in an Instagram post on Sunday. "Fortunately, I won many titles of international dimension, including for Portugal, but putting the name of our country on the highest level in the world was my biggest dream."

Ronaldo started on the bench for the second consecutive match at Al Thumama stadium after scoring just once -- a penalty against Ghana -- in four outings at this World Cup.

The defeat to Morocco was almost certainly the 37-year-old's last appearance in football's showpiece tournament. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star cut a distraught figure as he walked off the pitch in tears immediately after the final whistle.

Ronaldo, who has been capped 195 times and scored a record 118 goals for his country, will be 41 when the next World Cup begins in the United States, Canada and Mexico, reports Xinhua.

"I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream," said Ronaldo, who is currently without a club after leaving Manchester United by mutual consent in November.

"I've scored in five World Cups over 16 years, always alongside great players and supported by millions of Portuguese people, I gave my all. I left everything on the pitch. I never turned my back on the fight and I never gave up on that dream.

"Unfortunately, yesterday the dream ended. I just want everyone to know that much has been said, much has been written, much has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal has not changed for an instant. I was always one more person fighting for everyone's goal and I would never turn my back on my teammates and my country.

"For now, there's not much more to say. Thank you, Portugal. Thank you, Qatar. The dream was beautiful while it lasted...Now, I hope that time can offer the best advice and allow everyone to draw their own conclusions."

--IANS

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Kandy (Sri Lanka), Dec 12 (IANS) Defending champions Jaffna Kings beat Dambulla Aura by 51 runs in a Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2022 match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, here on Sunday.

Batting first, the Jaffna Kings posted a mammoth total of 240 for the loss of four wickets. In reply, Shevon Daniel and Jordan Cox opened the innings for Dambulla Aura. However, Jordan was sent back to the pavilion by Binura Fernando for 5 runs.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shevon put up a 24-run partnership before Shevon was dismissed by Binura Fernando. Bhanuka made 38 runs from 31 balls, which included 5 boundaries.

Toward the end of the innings, captain Dasun Shanaka made a quickfire 44 from 23 balls. His innings was laced with four boundaries and three sixes. Ravindu Fernando was unbeaten at 19 from 13 balls. Dambulla Aura fell short of the target by 51 runs.

For Jaffna Kings, Binura Fernando was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped 4-22 from his allotted four overs. On the other hand, Suminda took two wickets, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dilshan Madushanka took one wicket each.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Dambulla Aura elected to bowl first. For Jaffna Kings, Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a brilliant knock. He scored a superb 73 runs from 35 balls. His innings included seven boundaries and five sixes.

Gurbaz was well supported by Avishka Fernando, who made 54 runs from 30 balls. His innings was laced with six boundaries and two sixes. Shoaib Malik and Sadeera Samarawickrama contributed with 32 and 38 not out runs respectively.

For Dambulla Aura, Lahiru Kumara picked 2-56, while Pramod Madushan and Dushan Hemantha picked one wicket each.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Dec 11 (IANS) Hyderabad Blackbirds' Akhil Rabindra won the Drivers Championship in the inaugural Indian Racing League, which concluded here at the Hyderabad Street Circuit on Sunday.

Hyderabad Blackbirds finished second in the league behind Godspeed Kochi.

Akhil along with Neel Jani had won a hat-trick of wins in Round 2 of the league held at Madras Motor Race Track and followed it up with a win in the feature race in Round 3 at the same track helping Akhil go on top of the Drivers table. Neel Jani finished second in the Drivers table.

Akhil combined with Tom Canning in the last round of races held at the Hyderabad Street Circuit but were unfortunate not to finish on the podium in any of the races but it was enough for their team, the Hyderabad Blackbirds to finish second in the championship and Akhil to be crowned the Drivers Champion.

"It is an absolute honour to win the Drivers Championship in the first season of the Indian Racing League. Everyone worked together as a team and helped me achieve this feat. I am disappointed with not winning the Team Championships but we will come back stronger in the next season," Akhil said.

The first round of IRL was cancelled in the Hyderabad Street Circuit. The second and third round of IRL was held at Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai before the league concluded at the Hyderabad Street Circuit.

Akhil Rabindra is the only Indian to be competing in the European GT4 series and finished fourth in the recently-concluded season. He competes for Racing Spirit of Léman in the GT4 Circuit.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh starred with the bat as India Women held their nerves to beat Australia Women in Super Over of the second T20I and level the five-match series 1-1 at D.Y. Patil Stadium, here on Sunday.

Set 188 for victory, Mandhana smashed an impressive half-century (79 off 49) and kept India alive in the chase before she got out in the 17th over. Once, Smriti got out, Richa Ghosh took the baton and played an impactful cameo (26 off 13) and along with Devika Vaidya (11 not out off 5) helped India tie the game.

India emerged as the winner in the Super Over after both teams scored the same total -- India 187-5 and Australia 187-1 -- in their respective 20 overs.

Riding on Smriti's quickfire 13 off 3, along with Richa (6) and Harmanpreet (1), India scored 20 runs against the bowling of Heather Graham in the Super Over.

In reply, Alyssa Healy smashed Renuka for a boundary in the very ball but she made an impressive comeback by giving just one run on the second ball and dismissing Gardner on the third delivery. She conceded 11 runs in the next three balls as India eventually won the Super Over and brought an end to Australia's unbeaten run across all formats in 2022.

Before this, Mandhana gave India a positive start in a big run chase by smashing a flurry of boundaries in the first few overs. Shafali Varma (34 off 23) also joined the party as India raced to 55 in just six overs.

With the boundaries flowing, Alana King gave Australia a timely breakthrough by breaking the 76-run partnership and in the very next over, Jemimah Rodrigues got out. Harmanpreet Kaur (21 off 22) got going very early with a four and a six but Australia managed to keep her quiet thereafter.

Mandhana kept India in the chase during the middle overs by regularly clearing the boundary on the leg side. India appeared to be in the driver's seat when they needed 55 from the final five overs but both set batters were dismissed in the space of five deliveries to hand Australia the advantage.

However, Ghosh hammered a full toss for a huge six straight down the ground and followed it up with two more sixes in the following over to bring the equation down to 18 off 12. A see-saw battle ensued in the final moments leaving India five to get from the final delivery.

Megan Schutt, who bowled an excellent last over, found the yorker again but Devika Vaidya managed to dig it out and find the boundary to force a Super Over. Debutant Heather Graham was the most successful bowler for Australia with her brilliant figures of 3/22.

Earlier, put into bat first, skipper Alyssa Healy (25 off 15) gave Australia a flying start by dealing in boundaries. With fast bowlers not making much of an impact, Harmanpreet introduced spin of Deepti Sharma in the fourth over and it worked as Healy cut and got a leading edge, with Vaidya taking a catch at short third-man.

McGrath (70 not out) then joined Mooney (82 not out) at the crease and the pair continued from where they left in the first T20I. They put on an exhibition of T20I batting with their skill and good cricketing application to stitch a solid unbeaten partnership of 158 runs for the second wicket against the ordinary bowling and fielding effort of India.

Mooney slammed her half-century in 38 balls while McGrath reached the milestone in 37 balls as they hit the ball to all parts of the ground by toying with the fields and taking very calculated risks. While everyone went for runs, Deepti Sharma (1-31) was the lone wicket-taker for India.

Brief scores: Australia Women 187/1 in 20 overs (Mooney 82 not out, McGrath 70 not out; Deepti 1-31) vs India Woman 187/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 79, Shafali Verma 34, Richa Ghosh 26 not out; Heather Graham 3-22) Match tied.

Super Over: India W: 20/1 (1) beat Australia W: 16/1 (1)

--IANS

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