India lose despite 330! Why Harmanpreet blames batting - not bowling - after Australia’s record chase

India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur lamented a shocking lower-order collapse, where the team lost six wickets for 36 runs, costing them a potential 30-40 more runs. This proved decisive as Australia successfully chased a record 331. India openers Mandhana and Rawal providing a strong start but the middle and lower order failing to capitalise.

India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur reacts as she walks off the field after losing her wicket. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that her team’s shocking lower-order collapse proved decisive as world champions Australia chased down a record 331 to claim a thrilling three-wicket victory in the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. India appeared set for a mammoth total at 294 for 4 in the 43rd over, but their innings unraveled dramatically, losing the last six wickets for just 36 runs in seven overs. Annabel Sutherland spearheaded Australia’s comeback, ripping through the Indian lower order to grab her maiden five-wicket haul (5/40).Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! “The way we started, we could have added 30-40 more runs,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation. “We missed runs in the last six overs and that cost us. It was a good batting wicket, but not batting well in the end made the difference.” Earlier, openers Smriti Mandhana (80) and Pratika Rawal (75) provided the perfect platform with a 155-run stand. But despite a strong foundation, India’s middle and lower order failed to capitalise once again — an area that has plagued the team in the last few matches.

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“Openers have been outstanding, because of them we’ve been scoring 300-plus,” Harmanpreet said. “But the last five overs hurt us. In the last three games, we haven’t finished well in the middle and death overs. These things happen — it’s important how we come back.” India’s five-bowler strategy, designed to strengthen their batting, also came under scrutiny after the bowlers struggled to contain the Aussies. Harmanpreet hinted that the team might revisit the combination. “We’ll sit and discuss. This combination has given us success, and two bad games are not going to change that,” she said. Among bowlers, only Shree Charani (3/41) impressed, while the rest proved expensive. “She has been outstanding — even against top batters like Healy, she kept things tight,” Harmanpreet praised. Alyssa Healy powered Australia’s chase with a blistering 142 off 107 balls, while Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 47 guided them home with an over to spare — completing the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history.

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