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Australia have beaten India to add women’s T20 gold to their already bursting trophy cabinet on a drama-charged Commonwealth Games finale overshadowed by a COVID-19 controversy.
Australia held on to win by nine runs despite a brilliant knock by Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, adding Commonwealth gold to World T20 and ODI success for this all-conquering side.
Ash Gardner, the hero with the bat when Australia beat India to open the tournament, this time starred with the ball, taking 3-16 off three overs – including the match-turning wicket of Kaur.
But the win was overshadowed by drama before a ball was bowled.
The toss was delayed as officials discussed whether allrounder Tahlia McGrath would be allowed to play, having returned a positive COVID-19 test.
McGrath, one of Australia’s best players all tournament, presented to team officials with mild symptoms on Sunday morning and returned a subsequent positive test.
Despite this, she was cleared to play, and was forced sit away from her teammates and wear a mask while she waited to bat.
Tahlia McGrath. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
She also could not celebrate with her teammates after taking a catch.
Had the match been played in Australia, McGrath would have been forced to sit out and isolate for seven days, highlighting the ludicrous inconsistencies in COVID-19 policies.
Her impact on the game was minimal, but was none the less the biggest talking point at Edgbaston.
Cricket Australia said in a statement:
“Cricket Australia (CA) can confirm that cricketer Tahlia McGrath has returned a positive test for Covid-19. CGA clinical staff have consulted with the Commonwealth Games Federation RACEG (Results Analysis Clinical Expert Group) team and match officials, and McGrath is taking part in today’s final against India.
“McGrath presented to team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and subsequently returned the positive test. She was named in the starting XI at the toss and the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved her participation in the final.
“In consultation with the CGF and the ICC, CGA and Cricket Australia medical staff have implemented a range of comprehensive protocols which will be observed throughout the game and for post-match activity, to minimise the risk of transmission to all players and officials.
“The CGA has maintained a comprehensive Covid-19 risk mitigation strategy for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with testing protocols over and above those required by the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee.”
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Alyssa Healy again failed to fire, out lbw for seven, but skipper Meg Lanning joined Beth Mooney for a 74-run partnership off just 47 deliveries.
Australia were looking comfortable, before a double piece of brilliance from Radha Yadav dragged India back into the contest.
First Yadav flicked the ball between her legs to catch Lanning short of her ground for 36 after backing up to far, before she plucked a diving catch off McGrath to dismiss the Australian No.4 in the next over.
Gardner pounded a quick-fire 25, but it was Mooney (61 off 41) who was holding the innings together before she was dismissed by a brilliant Deepti Sharma catch.
Sharma stuck out a hand to take a one-handed stunner.
After staring down 180-plus, Australia fell away towards the end and managed just 11 runs off the final two overs and reached 8-161.
India smacked 12 runs off the first over in reply but lost two quick wickets, with Darcie Brown bowling Smriti Mandhana behind her legs before Shafali Verma wasted her extra life to fall for 11.
But enter Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian skipper looking like she would carry India to the gold medal on her own as she struck a brilliant 65 off 43 balls before holing out in the deep as Gardner picked up two wickets in two balls.
A Grace Harris direct hit helped stymie India as they were left needing 11 runs off the final over, but it only lasted three balls as Jess Jonassen claimed the final wicket to spark wild celebrations.
Meanwhile, The Diamonds’ netball gold medal has added lustre, as its also the 1000th for Australia in Commonwealth Games history.
Australia started Sunday on 59 golds at the Birmingham Games and the Diamonds’ 55-51 win in the final over Jamaica was the seventh for the day.
Sunday featured some of the best Australian performances at the Birmingham Games, with Cassiel Rousseau producing the dive of his life to win the 10m platform event.
The Australian women also ruled the cycling road race, producing a textbook team performance to set up Georgia Baker in a sprint finish for her third gold medal of the Games.
Kelsey Barber’s Games preparations were thrown off kilter when she also tested positive to COVID-19 on arrival in England.
But the two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist was supreme in the javelin final, snatching the gold medal from compatriot Mackenzie Little with a clutch final throw.
Maddison Keeney also won diving gold in the three-metre springboard, while Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett rallied for a comeback win over Canada in their beach volleyball final.
Australian chef de mission Petria Thomas, herself a three-time Games gold medallist in swimming, said it is an honour to lead the team.
“Australia has a long and proud sporting history, with this 1000th gold medal cementing our spot at the top of the Commonwealth table,” she said.
“I congratulate the Diamonds in bringing home this significant medal in our amazing history and all those who have stood atop the podium at this year’s Games and all the Games, dating back to Hamilton in 1930.
“Sitting in the stands today, watching our athletes fight for every point, every move, and every run made me feel so proud.”
Australia’s 66 golds in Birmingham so far with one day left means it will fall well short of the record 87 won at the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada.
But it is a significant improvement on the 49 in Glasgow eight years ago, the last time the Games were held in Great Britain.
That was also the only time in the last eight Games that Australia did not top the medal tally, coming second to England.
Australia won two gold medals at the 1911 Festival Of Empire, but these are not counted towards the Games tally.
Australia won three gold medals at the first Empire Games in 1930.
England is a distant second on the overall Games medal tally with 771 gold, 55 of them in Birmingham.
© AAP