Women's T20 WC: Harmanpreet's 56 powers India to 170/4 vs Australia at Lord's
Synopsis
Harmanpreet Kaur walked out at Lord's in a must-win game and delivered a 56 off 27 balls — three sixes off the final over alone — to lift India to 170/4 against Australia. Now, Australia must break the Women's T20 World Cup chase record just to survive. With Kohli, Shastri, and Dhawan watching from the stands, the pressure could not be higher.
Key Takeaways
India posted 170/4 against Australia at Lord's on 28 June in a must-win ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash.
Harmanpreet Kaur smashed 56 off 27 balls , including three consecutive sixes in the final over against Sophie Molineux .
Openers Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (34) put on 66 runs to set the platform.
India scored 36 runs in the final two overs , applying massive pressure on Australia.
Australia need the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history to reach the semifinals.
Virat Kohli , Anushka Sharma , Ravi Shastri , and Shikhar Dhawan were present at Lord's to cheer India.
India posted a commanding 170/4 against Australia in their must-win ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash at Lord's on 28 June, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur's blistering 56 off 27 balls headlining a dominant batting display. The result means Australia must chase down the highest successful total in Women's T20 World Cup history to deny India a semifinal berth.
Star-Studded Crowd at Lord's
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Ravi Shastri, and Shikhar Dhawan were among the high-profile faces cheering India from the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground. The star-studded gallery added to the electric atmosphere as India's batters turned on the style in a virtual quarterfinal.
Solid Powerplay Foundation
India elected to bat first, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma neutralising Australia's new-ball attack to race to 43 runs without loss in the powerplay. The pair extended their partnership to 66 runs before Shafali was bowled for 34 in the 10th over.
Jemimah Rodrigues joined Mandhana, but a costly mix-up in the 12th over ended Mandhana's innings at 38 off 37 balls. Jemimah contributed a shaky 34 off 28 balls before being retired out ahead of the final over to make way for the finishers.
Harmanpreet's Explosive Finish
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur shifted gears immediately on arrival, regularly finding the boundary. The defining moment came in the final over against opposing captain Sophie Molineux, when Harmanpreet struck three consecutive sixes to bring up a stunning half-century off just 25 balls. She eventually fell for 56 off 27 balls, laced with six fours and three sixes.
Deepti Sharma sealed the innings in style, hitting a boundary off the final delivery. Molineux picked up two wickets but conceded 46 runs in her four overs, including a punishing 23 in the last over. India's last two overs yielded an extraordinary 36 runs.
What India Need Now
With 170/4 on the board, India's bowlers must now defend a total that would require Australia to script history. No side has successfully chased this down in a Women's T20 World Cup match. Notably, this is a knockout-in-all-but-name fixture, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. India's bowling attack will need to replicate the discipline that their batters displayed in the back half of the innings.
Point of View
Freeing the crease for an explosive finish. However, the real test now is with the bowling unit: India have a history of posting competitive totals and then leaking runs in the middle overs against Australia's aggressive batting order. A semifinal place is firmly in India's hands, but defending 170 at Lord's against a side of Australia's calibre is no formality.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What score did India post against Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup at Lord's?
India scored 170/4 against Australia at Lord's on 28 June in their must-win ICC Women's T20 World Cup group clash. The total was built on a solid opening stand and a devastating finish from captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
How did Harmanpreet Kaur perform in the match?
Harmanpreet Kaur scored a stunning 56 off just 27 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes. She struck three consecutive sixes in the final over against Sophie Molineux and reached her half-century in only 25 balls.
What do Australia need to do to qualify for the semifinals?
Australia need to achieve the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history to eliminate India and advance to the semifinals. The target of 171 has never been successfully chased in the tournament's history.
Who were the celebrity spectators at Lord's during the match?
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Ravi Shastri, and Shikhar Dhawan were among the notable faces cheering India from the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground.
How did India's openers perform in the powerplay?
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a confident start, reaching 43 runs without loss in the powerplay before extending their partnership to 66 runs. Shafali was eventually bowled for 34 in the 10th over.
