ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final, India vs Australia: As it happened

Defending champion Australia crushed India by 85 runs in the final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's T20 World Cup at the MCG on Sunday to lift record-extending fifth title at the showpiece event.

Image Credits: Twitter/@ICC

India will look to clinch their maiden trophy at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's T20 World Cup when they lock horns with defending champion and four-time winner Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. 

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had booked their place in the summit showdown of the showpiece tournament for the very first time after their semi-final clash against England was washed out without a ball bowled at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday. 

India progressed by virtue of their top-place finish in Group A after winning all the four clashes against Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Australia, on the other hand, stormed into the final for the sixth time in a row after clinching a narrow five-run win over South Africa via Duckworth-Lewis Method in the second semi-final clash in Sydney on Thursday. 

The hosts are the most successful team in the Women's T20 World Cup, having lifted the trophy on four occasions. They are now looking to clinch their fifth trophy at the event. 

Here are the live updates:

08 March 2020

15:33 PM

WICKET!! Australia need just one win to clinch fifth title. Radha Yadav hammered the first ball of the 19th over by Jonassen to mid-on, only to see Mooney take a good catch. India Women 99/9 (19 overs)

15:28 PM

WICKET!! It's two wickets in an over for Megan Schutt. While Shikha Pandey (2) was caught by Mooney on the first ball of the 18th over, Richa Ghosh was taken by Carey at midwicket on the third delivery of the over. India Women 97/8 (18 overs)

15:27 PM

WICKET!! Deepti Sharma fell for 33 after being taken by Veth Mooney at long-on on the first ball of the 17th over by Carey. India Women 92/6 (17 overs)

15:14 PM

India added 12 runs off the last two overs. Deepti Sharma (33) and Richa Ghosh (12) are currently batting at the crease, with India needing 97 runs from 24 balls. India Women 88/5 (16 overs)

15:06 PM

18 runs off the last two overs. Richa Ghosh (8) lifted the second ball of the 13th over towards wide long-off for four runs before Deepti Sharma (25) edged the fifth ball of the 14th over to the third man  for four runs. India Women 76/5 (14 overs)

15:06 PM

Richa Ghosh comes to bat for India!

15:01 PM

WICKET!! India have now lost fifth wicket as Veda Krishnamurthy was caught by Jonassen at mid-off on the third ball of the 12th over by Delissa Kimmince. India Women 58/5 (12/20 overs)

15:01 PM

India Women 51/4 (10 overs)

14:44 PM

Seven runs off the last two overs. Deepti Sharma and Veda Krishnamurthy are currently batting at the crease at their respective scores of 10 and 5. India need 146 runs from 12 overs. India Women 39/4 (8 overs)

14:40 PM

WICKET!!! Harmanpreet Kaur departed for four runs after being caught by Gardner at deep square on the fourth ball of the fifth over by sixth over. India Women 32/4 (6 over)

14:34 PM

India Women 26/3 (5 overs)

14:34 PM

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are currently batting at the crease. 

14:32 PM

WICKET!! India have now lost third wicket in their 185-run chase. Smriti Mandhana fell for 11 runs after being caught by Carey at mid-off on the first ball of the fourth over by Sophie Molineux. India Women 23/3 (4 overs)

14:31 PM

India Women 18/2 (3 overs)

14:29 PM

WICKET!! Jemimah Rodrigues came to bat for India and she departed for a duck after being caught by Nicola Carey at mid-on on the last ball of the second over by Jess Jonassen. India Women 8/2 (2 overs)

14:23 PM

Taniya Bhatiya (2) has retired hurt after getting a blow on her helmet on the third ball of the second over. India Women 5/1 (1.3 overs)

14:18 PM

Taniya Bhatia is the new batswoman in!

14:14 PM

WICKET!!! Megan Schutt gave a breakthrough to Australia as early as in the first over. Shafali Verma (2) was caught by Alyssa Healy behind the stumps on the third ball. India Women 3/1 (1 over)

14:04 PM

 Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.to open the chase for India. Megan Schutt to open the proceedings for Australia.

13:59 PM

Innings Break!!

13:58 PM

Australia set a 185-run target for India. Australia Women 184/4  (20 overs)

13:51 PM

WICKET!!! Rachael Haynes (4) was clean bowled by Poonam Yadav on the fifth ball of the 19th over. Australia Women 176/4 (18.6 overs)

13:51 PM

Australia Women 167/3 (18 overs)

13:41 PM

WICKET!!! Two wicket in an over for Deepti Sharma. While Meg Lanning (16) was caught by Shikha Pandey at square leg on the second ball of the 17th over while Ashleigh Gardner (2) was stumped by Taniya Bhatia on the fifth ball. Australia Women 157/3 (17 overs)

13:37 PM

FIFTY!!! Beth Mooney (50) has brought up a half-century off 41 balls. She reached the mark by picking up a single on the fifth ball of the 15th over by Poonam Yadav. Australia Women 142/1 (15 overs)

13:29 PM

18 runs off the last two overs. Meg Lanning (10) got off the mark with four runs as she pulled the first ball of the 13th over behind square for four runs before she guided a Deepti Sharma delivery past point for four runs. Mooney (48) then launched the fifth ball of the 14th over towards extra cover for four runs. Australia Women 135/1 (14 overs)

13:28 PM

Skipper Meg Lanning comes to bat for Australia!

13:20 PM

WICKET!!! Radha Yadav finally gave a much-needed breakthrough to India. Alyssa Healy, who was on the roll today, was caught by Veda Krishnamurthy at long-on on the fourth ball of the 12th over. Australia Women 117/1 (12 overs)

Healy goes for 75, the highest score in a Women's #T20WorldCup final.

BIG wicket for India. #T20WorldCup | #FILLTHEMCG

SCORE  https://t.co/fEHpcnTek4 pic.twitter.com/jHUTsCHPJm

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 8, 2020

13:17 PM

Shikha Pandey conceded 23 runs to Australia. Mooney (37) chopped the first ball of the 11th over to third man's left for four runs before Healy (75) smashed the Indian bowler for three back-to-back sixes. Australia Women 114/0 (11 overs)

13:13 PM

FIFTY!!! Alyssa Healy has brought up a half-century off just 30 balls. She reached the mark in style by lofting the second ball of the 10th over by Radha Yadav beautifully straight to the sightscreen for four runs. Australia Women 91/0 (10 overs)

13:08 PM

Australia are on the roll today as they added 25 more runs in the last two overs. Healy (47) clubbed the third ball off the 8th over to long-on for six runs before she once again tossed the ball to the same region for another maximum. Mooney (29) then lofted the second ball of the next over by Poonam Yadav over mid-on for four runs. Australia Women 79/0 (9 overs)

12:58 PM

Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowled a good sixth over before Poonam Yadav conceded five singles to Australia. Beth Mooney (22) and Alyssa Healy (32) have guided Australia past 50-run mark. Australia Women 54/0 (7 overs)

12:49 PM

Australia added another 15 runs in the last two overs. Mooney (18) lofted the second ball of the third over by Rajeshwari Gayakwad beautifully over cover for four runs before she smashes Shikha Pandey for back-to-back fours in the next over. Australia Women 47/0 (5 overs)

12:44 PM

18 runs off the last two overs. Healy (28) lofted the second ball of the second over by Shikha towards mid-off for four runs before she guided fifth ball over cover for another boundary. Subsequently, the Australian opener also smashed opener Deepti for four runs in the next over. Australia Women 32/0 (3 overs)

12:39 PM

Shikha Pandey to share the new ball!

12:32 PM

A quite expensive over from Deepti Sharma as she conceded 14 runs to Australia. Alyssa Healy (13) slapped the first ball of the over wide of long-on to open her account with four runs before she smashed the Indian for two other boundaries. Mooney, on the other hand, got off the mark with a single by driving the third ball to long-on. Australia Women 14/0 (1 over)

12:22 PM

Deepti Sharma to open the bowling for India. Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy will begin the innings for Australia. 

Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney to face. Deepti Sharma to bowl. Let's play!#T20WorldCup | #FILLTHEMCG

SCORE  https://t.co/fEHpcnTek4 pic.twitter.com/MOjrV7tjoJ

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 8, 2020

12:20 PM

The two sides have walked down the crease for their national anthems.

12:18 PM

Meanwhile, the fans have gathered in large number at MCG to watch India vs Australia clash.

#FILLTHEMCG pic.twitter.com/4sIOt3vhyQ

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 8, 2020

12:15 PM

It's Katy Perry time at the MCG!

@katyperry #T20WorldCup | #FILLTHEMCG pic.twitter.com/tgc5DUPbZb

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 8, 2020

12:14 PM

Lineups:

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Rajashwari Gayakwad

Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Nicola Carey, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt

11:55 AM

Australia win toss, opt to bat against India in final.

Meg Lanning has won the toss and elected to bat at a rapidly filling MCG!

Good decision? #T20WorldCup | #FILLTHEMCG pic.twitter.com/o1Vq88PEcs

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 8, 2020

11:52 AM

The toss will take place shortly!