Radha Yadav puts on a fielding masterclass in the CWG 2022 final, with a through-the-legs run out and a fantastic diving grab

On Sunday, Australia defeated India by nine runs in a T20 thriller to earn gold in the women’s cricket event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Australia batted first and scored 161 for 8 in 20 overs, with Beth Mooney batting 61 off 41 balls and Renuka Singh returning 2 for 25. In response, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur began the chase with 65 off 43 balls, but wickets fell quickly, as India was bowled out for 152 in 19.3 overs. The Australians captured the final five wickets for 13 runs, with Ashleigh Gardner collecting three for sixteen.

Renuka and Sneh Rana (2/38) split four wickets for India, but it was Radha Yadav who put on a fantastic fielding display at Edgbaston. Yadav bowled a superb through-the-legs run-out and then secured a diving catch to dismiss Tahila Mcgrath.

Beth Mooney played the opening delivery of the 11th over straight, and her batting partner Lanning rushed for a single. But Yadav was quick to intercept the ball and deliver an underarm toss that left Lanning inches short of her crease.

McGrath attempted a cut in the following over, bowled by Deepti Sharma, but failed to hold it down. Yadav made no mistakes in the backward point zone, diving to her left for a stunner. McGrath, who played in the final despite testing positive for Covid-19, was out for just two runs, as Australia suffered two blows in as many overs.

🏏 Howzat for quick thinking?

A quite brilliant run-out by @WeareTeamIndia's Radha Yadav.

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Harmanpreet was smooth during the chase, hitting 65 with seven fours and two sixes. Jemimah Rodrigues also contributed 31 runs-a-ball, but India’s bottom batting order crumbled under duress and was bowled out for 152 in the last over.

The strong Australians have won the past two T20 World Cups in 2018 and 2020, as well as the 50-over World Cup earlier this year. India finished second in the medal count.

“It’s just massive,” left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen remarked. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of various World Cup-winning teams, but earning the first gold medal for women’s cricket at the Commonwealth Games is something you can only accomplish once.”