The Indian Women’s team created history today at the County Ground in Derby by defeating the mighty Australian side by a whopping 36 runs to enter the final of the Women’s World Cup.
It was a mind boggling performance which was mainly possible due to a once in a lifetime innings by Harmanpreet Kaur who remained unbeaten on 171 of a mere 115 deliveries in an innings which contained 20 fours and 7 big sixes.
She just toyed with the Australian bowling to take India to a mammoth 282/4 in 42 overs and the match was almost half won by then but with someone like Meg Lanning in the opposition rank, the battle wasn’t yet won. But after two early strikes India sensed victory and despite a late fight by Alex Blackwell who scored a valiant 85, India coasted to the final in the end.
So with the Semi finals done and dusted let us have a look at the 5 Talking points of the 2nd semi final
1) Harmanpreet Kaur’s mind-boggling knock
The first Indian woman to get a big bash contract, Harmanpreet Kaur brought out her A game in a crunch semi final against the much fancier Australian side. With 34-8 win loss ratio coming into the match, the scales were heavily tilted in their favour so it required something exceptional from any of the Indian woman and it was Harmanpreet who smashed the Aussies all around Derby and made batting look ridiculously easy.
Her 171 of a mere 115 deliveries was decorated with 20 fours and 7 hits over the fence. It was just mayhem in Derby which was literally impossible to stop for the Australians. It was pure brutal hitting by the Punjabi girl who made the stadium look immensely small. Her innings helped India reach 282 in 42 overs.
2) Indian bowlers reduce Australia to 25/3
Chasing a huge target, the start was key to Australia’s chances but Shikha Pandey and Jhulan Goswami wrecked Australia early with the wickets of Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning with unplayable deliveries. While Pandey’s delivery went through the gate, Goswami defeated Meg Lanning with a jaffa which cut her on the outside and disturbed the timbers.
Deepti Sharma came into the act as he defeated Nicole Bolton on the flight and gave a simple return catch back to Deepti who accepted the offer gleefully.
3) Deepti Sharma’s 3 wicket haul
Right-arm offie Deepti Sharma had a great game and though she was smashed for a few runs towards the end she returned with figures of 3/58 in 7.2 overs. After dismissing Nicole Bolton Deepti Sharma came back in her final spell to get rid of the dangerous Alex Blackwell to finish the game. She threatened to take the game with a one woman display but Deepti brought an end to the magnificent innings to give India a 36 runs victory.
4) Elysse Villani’s whirlwind 75
After 3 early wickets, a partnership was the order of the day for Australia and Elysse Villani and Blackwell started resurrecting the innings. Villani threatened to take the game away from the Indians with some lusty blows and smashed her way to 75 before Rajeshwadi Gaikwad deceived her in the flight and she gave a simple catch to the mid on fielder.
She looked in ominous touch and innings contained 13 well-crafted boundaries. Her wicket finally halted the Australian run chase and made things very difficult towards the end.
5) Alex Blackwell’s valiant effort
Blackwell kept the hopes of Australia alive till the time she was dismissed in the penultimate over. She struck some exceptional shots which surely gave India a scare towards the fag end of the innings. Blackwell kept on smashing the spinners towards the later part when wickets kept tumbling at the other end.
She smashed 10 fours and 3 gigantic sixes which allowed Australia to get close to the Indian total. It was always a tough ask with a solitary wicket in hand towards the end and she was eventually dismissed on 90 of a mere 56 deliveries.