Visakhapatnam, Oct 12 (NationPress) India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her disappointment over a lost chance as her team could not leverage the strong position established by openers Smriti Mandhana (80) and Pratika Rawal (75), finishing 30-40 runs short in their three-wicket loss to Australia during the Women's World Cup on Sunday.

With Mandhana and Rawal forming a solid 155-run partnership at the top, India reached a commendable 198/1 in 30 overs. However, they faltered significantly, losing nine wickets for just 138 runs, including six wickets for a mere 36 runs, leading to their dismissal at 330 in 48.5 overs, failing to utilize the full 50 overs.

The Australian captain, Alyssa Healy, delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a remarkable 142 runs off 107 deliveries, while Ellyse Perry (47 not out) and Ashleigh Gardner (45) provided crucial support, guiding Australia to a total of 331/7 in just 49 overs, clinching victory with six balls remaining.

"We had a fantastic start, but could have added an additional 30-40 runs. We missed opportunities in the last six overs, which ultimately cost us. It was indeed a great batting wicket, but our performance in those final overs let us down. The openers have been exceptional, and thanks to them, we have consistently scored around 300 runs," Harmanpreet Kaur stated during the post-match presentation.

Harman reflected on the performance of the lower-order batters, who had previously supported the team effectively in the earlier matches but fell short against Australia.

"The last five overs were detrimental to our score. In the past three matches, we struggled during the middle overs, but our lower order managed to take on the responsibility. The first 40 overs were solid. Now, it's vital for us to regroup and work towards a comeback, as such events are part of the game," she added.

She also commended young spinner N Shree Charani for her impressive bowling, which helped to bring India back into contention as the match progressed.

"She has been remarkable. Today, she bowled excellently against their batters. Even when Healy was at the crease, she didn't make it easy for them. We hold great expectations for her to provide breakthroughs," said the Indian skipper.

Despite the struggles of India's five-bowler strategy in their recent matches against formidable opponents, Harman defended the approach, emphasizing its past successes.

"We will analyze our strategy moving forward. This combination has proven effective for us. A couple of poor games won't change our outlook," remarked Harmanpreet Kaur.

She expressed hope that her team would bounce back in the upcoming matches and secure their spot in the semifinals.