India vs Australia Women's T20 World Cup semi-final: List of award winners, Player of the Match

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India vs Australia Women's T20 World Cup semi-final Australia defeated India by five runs in the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup at Cape Town's Newlands Cricket Ground on Thursday. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's half-century went in vain as India failed to chase down a challenging target of 173 through Beth Mooney's 54.

Opting to bat first, Mooney provided a strong start at the top before skipper Meg Lanning took over with a spitfire knock of 34-ball 49* to help Australia go past 170. The captain shot Renuka Singh for two sixes in the final over.

Ashleigh Gardner made a crucial contribution of 18-ball 31 as Australia posted 172/4. Shikha Pandey was the pick among the bowlers with a spell of 2/32 while Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav picked a wicket apiece.

Chasing the total, India were in trouble inside the powerplay at 28/3 with Smriti Mandhana (2), Shafali Verma (2) and Yastika Bhatia (4) gone cheaply. Harmanpreet Kaur (52) and Jemimah Rodrigues (43) made sincere efforts to bring India back in the chase.

However, the duo departed in crucial junctures to leave India's chase toothless at the death.

Gardner (2/37) and Darcie Brown (2/18) were the pick among Australian bowlers as India were restricted at 167/8 in 20 overs.

India vs Australia Women's T20 World Cup: List of award winners

Player of the match Ashleigh Gardner (31 runs and 2/37)
Most sixes Meg Lanning (2)
Most fours Beth Mooney (7)
Best strike rate Jemimah Rodrigues (179.17)
Best bowling economy rate Darcie Brow (4.50)

India vs Australia Women's T20 World Cup: Presentation ceremony

Meg Lanning (winning captain): "One of the best wins I have been involved in. To fightback from well behind and win despite not playing our best cricket. Great fighting spirit from the girls, couldn't be more proud of them.

"We missed out lengths and gave width at times. India came hard at us and they have got some incredible players. Came right down to the wire and we had to seize those clutch moments.

"Certainly holds us in good stead for the final. We stayed in the game and that's what you got to do under pressure. We didn't execute as well as we would have liked, but we never panicked. Can't wait to be out here on Sunday."

Harmanpreet Kaur (losing captain): "Can't be unluckier than this, to get that momentum back when me and Jemi were batting. And to lose after that, we didn't expect this today. The way I got runout, can't be unluckier than that.

"Putting in the effort was more important. We discussed about fighting till the last ball. The result didn't go our way, but I am happy with the way we played in this tournament. We know we have a good batting line up even if we lose early wickets. Need to give credit to Jemi for the way she batted today.

"She got us the momentum we were looking for. Happy to see such performances. Happy to see them play their natural game. We even though we didn't play to our strengths, we reached the semis. We gave those easy catches away. Got to take those when you want to win. We misfielded. We can only learn from these lessons and not repeat the mistakes.

Ash Gardner (Player of the Match): "Bowling the last over, my average heart-rate is probably like 190. That just shows the way we fight as a team, and that's what we kind of spoke about in the huddle right at the end. We probably weren't in a winning position and that's when this team does best.

"When our backs are up against the wall, we find a way and we scrap really hard and that's what we did today with the ball. I think we set up the game really well with the bat, probably missed a few with the ball but I think that fight we showed shows the character of this team.

"(Meg was telling me to) just be really clear with what I want to execute, we obviously know that they have handy batters all the way down, so it's about being clear on what you want to do and not give any freebies. I was just trying to hit the wicket and keep the stumps in play as often as possible.

"Always nice spending time in the middle, spending time with Meg as well. She is always calm and keeps it simple out there. I felt with the confidence coming into this game after the couple of innings I have had throughout this World Cup, I guess I gotta take that confidence into the next game and then hopefully win in the final."