Australia win historic cricket gold
BIRMINGAHM, United Kingdom (AFP) — Australia won the first women’s cricket gold medal in Commonwealth Games history on Sunday as Scotland’s Laura Muir captured the 1500m title on the final night of athletics.
Hot favourites Australia held their nerve to beat India by nine runs in a Twenty20 thriller in front of a big Edgbaston crowd.
Opener Beth Mooney top-scored with 61 as Australia made 161-8 in their 20 overs in the warm sunshine.
India appeared to be on course for a shock win when they were cruising at 118-2.
But the dismissals of Jemimah Rodrigues (33) and Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (65) sapped their momentum and they fell frustratingly short.
Australia partied on the pitch as the lights went out around the stadium.
Victory underlines the dominance of Australia’s women, who are also world champions in the 20-over and 50-over formats.
In the bronze medal match earlier on Sunday, New Zealand coasted to an eight-wicket win over England.
