Women's World Cup: India lose a high-scoring contest against Australia

Meg Lanning and her team are in, no chase is beyond Australia's reach. In a high-scoring contest, Australia pulled off a record World Cup chase, overhauling India's total of 277/7 with three balls to spare for a six-wicket victory. With the win, the six-time champions sealed their berth in the semifinals.

India are now left with the task of winning their remaining two matches, against South Africa and Bangladesh, to stay in the hunt for a knockout berth. Much like their previous outings, Australia thrived on team effort to get through the line in the last-over finish. Leading the way for the team from Down Under was skipper Lanning with her 107-ball-97 (13x4) and Alyssa Healy (72; 65b, 13x4).

A brief rain halt failed to dampen Australia's victory march. Having put India in to bat, the title favourites got off to a good start, sending back openers Smriti Mandhana (10) and Shafali Verma (12) during the Powerplay, with young pacer Darcie Brown (3-30) coming to the party early in the game. Mandhana was the first one to go, handing a low catch to Lanning at slips.

Shafali's cut shot was brilliantly taken by Beth Mooney at gully. At 28/2 in the sixth over, India had their backs to the wall before Yastika Bhatia (59) and skipper Mithali Raj (68; 96b, 4x4, 1x6) pulled off a rescue act with their 130-run association for the third wicket. The duo played an unhurried innings on a surface which was a batter's delight.

Yastika, who was dropped in the 11th over, made the best of the lifeline. Brown put the brakes on the partnership, when Yastika stepped out to accelerate but found Perry at deep point. Mithali too followed a few overs later, when she tried to switch gears and accelerate, offering a regulation catch to Perry at deep