CWG 2022: Big stage fright gets to Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. again as they lose to Australia in final

Indian women's cricket team once again succumbed to big st fright to suffer a nine-run defeat against mighty Australia in gold medal match of Commonwealth Games here on Sunday.

'Women In Blue' lost battle of nerves and also last five wickets for 13 runs with some poor strategic moves and even more atrocious shot selections leaving a lot to be desired.

Losing like winning is also a habit and in end, self belief of Sourn Stars prevailed with opposition taking a lot of pressure on mselves.

Beth Mooney (61 off 41) me a stroke-filled half century as Australia mand to reach 161 for eight despite a spirited fielding effort from India.

With 50 needed off last six overs with eight wickets in hand, and Harmanpreet (65 off 43) in middle of a special innings, it should have been a straightforward chase for India.

However, India found a way to fluff it as y lost eight wickets for 32 runs to come short in a major final once again. India's inexplicable batting collapse was also reminiscent of ir failure in 2017 ODI World Cup final in England.

Sharing an 96-run stand after fall of openers, Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues (33 off 33) were controlling chase but latter's dismissal triggered collapse.

batters manufactured ways to get dismissed with innings including three run outs. India were eventually bowled out for 152 with three balls left.

shots that Harmanpreet and Jemimah played were also questionable but y could t be solely blamed for abject surrender.

It was between 14.3 overs and 15.5 overs, a of nine deliveries that India lost game with Jemimah being bowled by Megan Schutt and Harmanpreet playing a suicidal lap-scoop off Ashleigh Gardner which was brilliantly pouched by an alert Alyssa Healy.

Deepti Sharma going for a n-existent second run and Concussion sub Yastika Bhatia being sent after Rha Yav were questionable decisions taken by coach Ramesh Powar and skipper Harman.

A silver medal finish was still a creditable one for India who beat England in semi-finals on Saturday.

It can also be said women's cricket debut at Commonwealth Games was largely a success. A packed house at Edgbaston witnessed first ever final in CWG..

Earlier, Australia opted to bat on a bright and sunny afteron.

Renuka Singh, stand-out pacer for India in this tournament, once again provided an early breakthrough by trapping dangerous Alyssa Healy leg before with a delivery that moved in a she.

Indians went for DRS in last second and it was successful.

Mooney (61 off 41)and skipper Meg Lanning (36 off 26) n stitched a 78-run stand and once again it seemed Australia would bat India out of game like y h done in T20 World Cup final couple of years ago.

Lanning me her intent clear as she dispatched a length ball off Renuka over mid off for first six of match.

Indian fielders who are often criticised h a fine day in middle. It started with a close run out of Lanning and included two fine catches from Deepti Sharma and Rha Yav.

Deepti plucked one off right hand to get rid of a well set Mooney while Rha took a low diving catch at backward point to dismiss Tahlia McGrath, who played game despite testing positive for COVID-19.

Australia looked set for a 180 plus total but India fought back in last five overs taking five wickets for 35 runs.

Renuka ended with tidy figures of 2 for 25 in four overs while fellow pacer Meghna Singh was underbowled as India used seven bowling options.

Sneh Rana (2/38) was most expensive bowler who bowled ir full quota but took two crucial wickets of Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner.