India women’s cricketers are ecstatic as they’ve qualified for their maiden final at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Thursday after their semi-final fixture against England was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Harmanpreet Kaur-led team made it through to the final after entering the knockouts as the Group A table-toppers with four victories in as many games.
Moreover, India got the better of Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the group stage. Thanks to Shafali Verma, and spinners; Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaekwad, Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma, who chipped in with individual performances – to help India come out on top.
On the other side of the coin, England had a comparatively better net run-rate than India but a defeat at the hands of South Africa in their opening fixture turned out to be the deciding factor as they were crashed out after having won three games out of four in the group stage fixtures.
England and India’s captain react after rain played spoilsport in the semi-final:
“Frustrating, didn’t want the World Cup to end this way but not much you can do about this. Would have been good to have a reserve day perhaps. That loss to South Africa cost us. Not really, we expected to reach the semi-finals and that we did. Undone by the weather,” England captain Heather Knight said after the game was called off.
“It is unfortunate not to get a game due to the weather. But that’s how the rules go. In future, it would be nice to have a reserve day. From day one, we knew that we have to win all the games because if in case we don’t get any play in the semifinals, it will be hard for us,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said.
Anushka Sharma reacts after India qualified for maiden ICC Women’s T20I World Cup final:
Indian captain Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma took to her official Twitter handle – to express her delight after India women qualified for maiden T20I World Cup final.
“Rain played spoilsport when we all wanted to witness a great match and see our girls in blue qualify to the finals ! But nonetheless, we will take this with both hands as well Grinning face with smiling eyes cannot wait for the 8th of March,” Anushka Sharma wrote.
Rain played spoilsport when we all wanted to witness a great match and see our girls in blue qualify to the finals ! But nonetheless , we will take this with both hands as well ? cannot wait for the 8th of March ????
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) March 5, 2020
India will take on the winners of the second semi-final match between South Africa and Australia, which will be staged at the same venue on Thursday (March 5) from 1.30 PM IST. But rain is predicted throughout the day in Sydney and with no reserve day scheduled in the tournament, South Africa would go through to the final after topping Group B if the match was not completed.
Well, the final is scheduled to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 8, Sunday.