Ind vs Aus LIVE updates | Australia inching closer to their fifth WWT20 title

The Indian women's team will have to overcome big match pressure as it aims to exorcise the ghosts of the past in the T20 World Cup final against habitual winners Australia in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Sunday. India go into the final unbeaten after topping the group stage where they had beaten the four-time champions Australia in the tournament opener. After the semifinal against England was washed out, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad advanced to their maiden summit clash, having finished first in Group A.

Shafali Verma's consistency

The refreshing firepower of 16-year-old Shafali Verma at the top and consistency of India's spin-heavy bowling attack has contributed massively to the team's success so far in the competition. However, much more is needed from star batters Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet if India are to win their maiden ICC trophy. The brittle middle-order too needs to deliver. And besides doing the right things on the field, India will also have to win the battle of nerves in the all-important game. Australia, who had beaten India in the preceding tri-series final, find themselves in familiar territory having made their sixth successive final in seven editions.

Australia's art of winning high-pressure games 

They know how to win the big moments in high-pressure games, while India have been found wanting on that front. The visitors had capitulated to England in the 2017 ODI World Cup final and 2018 World T20 semifinal.It may be a tad unfair on the teenager but the team will expect Shafali to provide another flying start and hope this time the experienced Mandhana too fires. There can't be a bigger stage for Harmanpreet to be back amongst the runs and lead the team from the front.If it was not for Shafali, India would have struggled to post competitive totals with the middle and lower-order doing precious little. The team did not cross the 150-run mark in the group stage but still managed to get over the line, thanks to a disciplined bowling effort.

Leggie Poonam Yadav has made a sensational comeback from a finger injury and is tournament's leading wicket-taker with nine wickets alongside Australia pacer Megan Schutt. Pacer Shikhar Pandey too has been impressive, while left-arm spin duo of Radha Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad has kept things tight. It will be interesting to see how Australians play Poonam on Sunday as the leggie was all over them in the tournament opener.

More than 75,000 tickets have already been sold for the final and the figure could go as high as 90,000, unprecedented in women's cricket. Australia, led by Meg Lanning, are backing themselves to win in front of the home fans though a sizable number of Indian fans too is expected at the iconic MCG.

Lead men's team pacer Mitchell Starc will also be in attendance, rooting for the home team and his wife Alyssa Healy after getting clearance to leave South Africa in the middle of the tour. Australia's campaign has been hit by injuries to pacer Tayla Vlaeminck at the start and star all-rounder Elysse Perry was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament before the semifinal against South Africa. Despite the twin setbacks, Australia have stormed into yet another title clash.

"We're not coming just to put on a good show. We're coming here to win and that's the attitude we're going in with. It's been a long time coming and the build-up to the game is something I've not experienced before. It will be the biggest moment of my career," said Lanning.

Inputs from PTI

India Women: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Veda Krishnamurthy, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pooja Vastrakar, Taniya Bhatia, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Arundhati Reddy, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh.

Australia: Rachael Haynes, Megan Schutt, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Erin Burns, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland. 

Australia win the toss & elect to bat first 

India Women XI: S Verma, S Mandhana, T Bhatia, J Rodrigues, H Kaur, V Krishnamurthy, D Sharma, S Pandey, R Yadav, P Yadav, R Gayakwad

Australia Women XI: A Healy, B Mooney, M Lanning, R Haynes, A Gardner, S Molineux, N Carey, J Jonassen, G Wareham, D Kimmince, M Schutt

Both teams take to the field as India look to restrict Australia to a managable total.

Wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy starts off the proceedings with a boundary

Alyssa Healy becomes the second Australian to score 2000 international T20 runs

A good first over for Australia as they score 14 runs. 

Australia get to 23 in two overs as Indian fielders drop two catches in the over

Deepti Sharma bowls yet another expensive over as Australia race away to 32/0

Rajeshwari Gaikwad gives away just five runs in her first over.

Australia are 37/0 after 4 overs.

Aussies nearing 50 just before the end of Powerplay overs.

Australia are 47/0 after 5 overs

Gaikwad bowls yet another tidy over as she gives away just two runs.

 Australia are 49/0 after six overs

Australia get to fifty as Poonam Yadav is introduced into the attack

Poonam Yadav starts off by giving away just five runs.

Australia are 54/0 after 5 overs

Alyssa Healy steadies the Australian run rate by smashing Rajeshwari Gaikwad for two maximums.

Australia are 70/0 after 8 overs

Opening batter Alyssa Healy scores a quickfire fifty as Australia eye a mammoth total

Indian bowlers gunning for quick wickets as Australia continue to score at a brisk rate.

Australia are 91/0 after 9 overs

Australia get to 100 in the 10th over. 

Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh show a late resurgence.

India are 81/5 after 15 overs

India about to reach the 100-run mark with four overs still left.

India are 88/5 after 16 overs

Deepti Sharma's wicket ends the Indian hopes.

India are 88/6 in the 17th over

India looking to cross the three-figure mark with three overs left.

India are 92/6 after 17 overs

Australia inch closer to their fifty Women's T20 World Cup crown as Shikha Pandey falls.

India are 92/7

Australia on the verge of making history once again.India are 97/9

Australia beat India to win their record fifth ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

India bundled out for 99 in the final over

Alyssa Healy clobbers Shika Pandey to three consecutive sixes. 

Australia are 114/0 at the halfway stage

A huge breakthrough for India as Radha Yadav accounts for a dangerous Alyssa Healy. She departs for a quickfire 39-ball 75 as Australia are 115/1

Australia continue to score at a brisk rate. 

After 13 overs, Australia are 125/1

Beth Mooney steadies the Australian innings. After 14 overs, Australia are 135/1.

Beth Mooney's half-century puts Australia in command. Aussies are 142/1 after 15 overs.

Australia racing towards a formidable total.

The Aussies are 154/1 after 16 overs.

Deepti Sharma scalps skipper Meg Lanning. Australia are 154/2.

Deepti Sharma gets yet another breakthrough for India as Ashleigh Gardner gets stumped. Australia are 156/3

India looking to pull things back in the death overs as Australia eye a mammoth total.

Australia are 169/3 after 18 overs

Poonam Yadav strikes in her final over as she removes Rachel Haynes. Australia are 176/4 in the 19th over

India need 185 runs to win their maiden Women's World T20

Indian openers look to lay a solid foundation as they look to create history

A huge blow for India as Shafali Verma departs in the very first over.

India are 2/0

India off to ma nervous start. They are 3/1 after the first over

Harsha Bhogle speaks about the high-octane finale at the MCG.

Another setback to India as Taniya Bhatiya retires hurt 

Jemimah Rodrigues' early dismissal puts India in all sorts of trouble.

India are 8/2 after 2 overs

India suffer a top-order collapse as Smriti Mandhana walks back to the dugout.

India are 18/3

Can Harmanpreet Kaur pull off a miracle for India?

India are 23/3 after 4 overs

Australian bowlers keep the Indian batters at bay

India are 26/3 after 5 overs

Indian innings falling apart as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is sent back to the dugout.

India are 30/4

Australia continue to keep things tight after Powerplay overs. India are 39/4

India reach fifty at the halfway mark

Veda Krishnamurthy and Deepti Sharma look to fightback for India.

India are 57/4 after 11 overs

India lose half their side after Veda Krishnamurthy's wicket

Australia looking to wrap up the Indian lower order quickly. 

India are 76/5