2017 ICC Women’s World Cup: (2nd Semifinal) India vs Australia – Harmanpreet Kaur’s Brilliant 171* Set India For Final

Jul 21, 2017 at 2:11 AM

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2017 ICC Women’s World Cup: (2nd Semifinal) India vs Australia – Harmanpreet Kaur’s Brilliant 171* Set India For Final

The Indian Women’s team is now just one step away from clinching their first World Cup title after securing a superb victory against the mighty Australian Women in the semifinal of 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup.

The match was reduced to 42-over per side due to a delayed start as rain played spoilt-sport. India’s captain Mithali Raj decided to bat first after winning the toss.

India put a good total of 281/4 at the end of 42 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur played a superb knock of unbeaten 171 runs off just 115 balls which was built up with 20 fours and 7 sixes.

In reply, Australia Women were bowled out for 245 runs in 40.1 overs. Only Elyse Villani and Alex Blackwell showed some good batting against the Indian bowlers. Villani scored 75 runs while Blackwell was threatening till the end as she played a 90-run knock off just 56 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. Ellyse Perry was the only other Australian batswomen to cross 20-run mark as she was dismissed on 38 runs.

Earlier, the Indian team failed to put a good start as their both openers returned early in the dressing room. Young talented opener Smriti Mandhana, who had begun this tournament on an impressive note, once again departed early as she was dismissed for only 6 runs in the very first over.

Another inform opener Punam Raut also failed to stay for a long time as she was caught at deep mid-wicket in Ashleigh Gardner’s second delivery (10th over of the innings) for 14 runs. At the end of the 10 overs, Indian women were 36/2.

Skipper Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur took the responsibility to restrain Indian innings as they put a solid and steady partnership of 66-run for the 3rd wicket. Both of them were looking good when Mithali was bowled (36 runs)  by the left-arm spinner Kristen Beams through a quicker delivery.

But Harmanpreet was not upset as she remained steady and became stronger as the time went on. After completing her half-century in 64 balls, Harmanpreet was looking very comfortable as she took the attacking approach from one side. She took only 26 deliveries to complete her next 50 runs as she scored the century off 90 balls.

Young girl Deepti Sharma helped Kaur from the other side by holding the wickets from the other end and rotating the strike continuously. Deepti played small but impactful innings of 25 runs off 35 balls as she put a superb 137 runs partnership along with Harmanpreet for the fourth wicket.

On the other hand, Harmanpreet was seeming unstoppable once she reached her hundred. She took only 17 balls to make her next 50 as she remained unbeaten for 171 runs off just 115 deliveries. It is the fourth highest individual score in the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, Veda Krishnamurthy came to bat at the end moment but put a good impression as she remained unbeaten on 16 runs off just 10 balls.

Indian bowlers also bowled very well which was never allowed the Aussies to reach in a good position.

Chasing the big target, Australian top-orders fell early which led Indian team into the strong position. Australia was 21/3 when Ellyse Perry (38 runs) and Elyse Villani put a century partnership (105 runs) for the fourth wicket. But once the partnership was broken, Australia’s wickets were falling in quick successions as the match was running out of hand from them.

When Aussies were 169/9 and India were just one wicket away for their memorable victory, Alex Blackwell played the heroic knock as a final attempt as she put on a brilliant 76-run partnership along with Kristen Beams (11*) for the last wicket.

Alex was looking very dangerous at the dead-end as it was seeming that India might suffer a shocking defeat in this game. But Deepti Sharma became the heartbreaker for the Aussies as she bowled Alex and sealed the Indian team’s spot for the final. Deepti was also the best bowler for the Indian team in this match as she picked up 3 wickets while Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey claimed 2 wickets each.

It is the second time in history that Indian team reached the final of ICC Women’s World Cup. India reached there for the first time in 2005 ICC Women’s World Cup, where they had lost against Australia Women by 98 runs in the final match of that World Cup.

But now Indian Women have a chance to win the ICC Women’s World Cup for the first time. In the final match of the tournament, they will meet the hosts England Women on the next Sunday (23rd July 2017). They had met each other in the group stage of this tournament, where India had clinched a 35-run victory.

Brief Scores (42-overs each side): India Women – 281/4 in 42 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 171*, Mithali Raj 36, Elyse Villani 1/19) vs Australia Women – 245 in 40.1 overs (Alex Blackwell 90, Elyse Villani 75, Deepti Sharma 3/59)

Result – India Women won by 36 runs

Player of the match – Harmanpreet Kaur (India Women)

 

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