Women's T20 World Cup: India knocked out as Australia set up Windies semi-final
India were knocked out of the T20 World Cup at the group stage by a six-wicket defeat by Australia, meaning South Africa will play England in the semi-finals.
On a dramatic day at Lord's, South Africa first beat Bangladesh to leave India needing a win against unbeaten Australia to progress.
They looked well placed when a thrilling 56 from 27 balls by captain Harmanpreet Kaur lifted their score to 170-4 amid partisan support and with superstar Virat Kohli watching in the stands.
India, who took 36 runs from the final two overs, were on top again when they reduced Australia to 68-3 in the 10th over of the chase.
But the great Ellyse Perry and all-rounder Ash Gardner combined for a brilliantly composed partnership of 100 from 59 balls to take Australia to the brink of victory.
Perry amassed 56 before falling with three runs to get and Gardner ended 53 not out - the right-handed pair hitting the ball to all parts with deft touches and clean strikes.
By the time Australia's victory was confirmed with one over to spare, the Indian crowd had been silenced. South Africa players who had stayed to watch were beaming in the famous brick pavilion.
After this reminder of their fearsome strength, Australia will be heavy favourites when they play West Indies in the first semi-final on Tuesday at 14:30 BST.
England and South Africa meet at The Oval on Thursday at 18:30 while India, who were looking to add the 20-over crown to their 50-over World Cup win last year, head home early.
India's players appeared as crestfallen as their supporters at the end.
They struggled to time the ball for much of their batting innings, with Jemimah Rodrigues even retired out on 34 from 28. Australia also dropped three catches in the final two overs, including chances dropped over the boundary for six.
But if Australia appeared rattled there, Perry and Gardner were the complete opposite.
They did not panic when they needed 86 from the last eight overs and cruised to their target in the end. Their partnership was perfectly paced.
India's bowling has struggled throughout this tournament and, despite crucial breakthroughs to dismiss Phoebe Litchfield for 24 and Beth Mooney 22, had no answer to Perry and Gardner's might.
Afterwards, both Harmanpreet and coach Amol Muzumdar said India need to "rethink" their T20 game.
"Our bowling needs to up the ante a little bit," Muzumdar said.
"I don't think our fielding helped the cause. We need to really go back and think how we are going to approach the T20 game."
In truth, India's mistake was not losing here, but their defeat by South Africa at Old Trafford last weekend which left them needing to upset the odds to progress from a tough group.
This was their fourth successive exit at the hands of Australia in Women's T20 World Cups and there will be now be doubts about the future of their 37-year-old captain Harmanpreet.
Tuesday's semi-final was arranged for the afternoon to suit Indian TV schedules but India will not be there.
England have built belief with their winning run through Group B and will start as favourites against South Africa, despite defeats in the sides' past two semi-final meetings.
Australia, though, showed their muscle here. They remain the side to beat.
Earlier, South Africa stuttered but ultimately applied the pressure to India by beating Bangladesh by four wickets in their final group match.
Having beaten India and piled up 208-1 against Netherlands in their previous two games, they put in an indifferent batting performance reminiscent of their opening two games.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt fell to the first ball of the chase, her off stump knocked back by a Marufa Aktar inswinger, and when Dane van Niekerk was trapped lbw for three the Proteas were 59-3 at the halfway stage.
Annerie Dercksen threatened to take them home but she edged behind for 45 in the 15th over after which the boundaries dried up and the tension rose.
Marizanne Kapp was run out for 16 and Nadine de Klerk was caught at deep mid-wicket with five runs still needed before Chloe Tryon edged a four and cleared the off side to secure victory with four balls to spare.
South Africa were at least better with the ball.
Kapp bowled Juairiya Ferdous with the first ball of the match and, despite some middle-order resistance through a careful 42 by Sobhana Mostary and the late flurry of captain Nigar Sultana's 32 not out, Bangladesh still only made 117-5.
But, after an affair far more tense than it should have been, they progress as they look to end a run of three successive final defeats at World Cups.
On this evidence they must improve to beat England, however.