India and knockouts are definitely not a match made in heaven. Both Men’s and Women’s teams have been unable to break the jinx of winning an ICC title in the past few years. While the Men’s team lost the opportunity last year when they were thrashed by England in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup, the women’s team too could do no better as Australia eased past them in the semifinal on Thursday.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team could not chase 173 in their 20 overs and lost the match by five runs. However, the result could have been pretty different given Harmanpreet Kaur stayed till the end. But it could not happen as the India captain got run out while trying to sneak in a second run against Georgia Wareham. Kaur looked distraught and angry at the way she lost her wicket.
While the Indian captain would be cursing her luck for that dismissal, Australia’s wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy holds Kaur accountable for the runout. While talking about the runout, Healy said that the Indian batter could have made it easily if she had genuinely put in an effort. The Aussie wicketkeeper also said that she usually does not whip off the bails in such situations but gave it a try that day and it worked out well.
“It’s kind of funny actually. Belinda Clarke messaged me and said, well done for taking the bails. And it’s quite an interesting one because I actually don’t take the bails a lot in that sort of scenario. I think it’s a waste of time and I’ve got to put them back on,” Healy told ABC sport.
“So, it’s annoying. But for some reason, I felt the need to take the bails off and it was like a bizarre moment where I looked at the umpire and said, I think that’s out. And I think Shooter at point was like. I also think that it’s out,” she added.
“So, just a bizarre play. Harmanpreet can say all she likes that it was so unlucky. At the end of the day, she cruised back and probably could’ve been passed the crease, an extra two meters if she genuinely put in the effort. So, we’ll take it,” Healy added.