India crashed to their first defeat in the Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup when they lost to Australia by seven wickets in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

All four teams in group A have four points each after three matches.

It was poor batting that cost India the match as they could manage only 87 in 18.5 overs. None of the batters could live up to the challenge on a tricky wicket.

Shweta Sehrawat top scored with 21. The next best scorers were Hrishita Basu and Titas Sadhu with 14 each.

Milly Illingworth started the slide removing captain Shafali Verma and Gongadi Trisha and India never recovered from the twin blows. Sianna Ginger had the best figures with 3/13 off 4 overs.

The Aussies reached the target in 13.5 overs. Claire Moore (25 not out) and Amy Smith (26 not out) were the top scorers.

Australia began the chase losing three wickets within 37 runs. But Moore and Smith fought the jitters and struck a 51-run partnership for an unbroken fourth wicket.

Shafali admitted that poor batting cost them the match. Apart from Sehrawat, no one really got going for India.

India now face Sri Lanka on Sunday while Australia take on UAE.

Brief scores: India 87 in 18.5 overs (Sianna Ginger 3/13). Australia 88/3 in 13.5 overs. Australia won by 7 wickets.