Derby: Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 171 in the Indian team thanks to a six-time champion Australia by 36 runs in the semifinal match of the ICC Women’s World Cup here today. With this victory, the Indian team has made it to the finals of the competition where they will meet on June 23 from the host England. The Indian team has made it to the finals of Women World Cup for the second time before she reached the final in 2005. Thanks to Harmanpreet’s century of 20 with eight fours and seven sixes, the Indian team scored 281 runs in four wickets in 42 overs. In reply, Australia was dismissed for 245 runs in 40.1 overs. Due to rain interruption, the number of overs in the match was reduced to 42-42. For Australia, Alice Villani scored 75 and Alex Blackwell’s 90-run knock, but it proved to be inexplicable to win the team.
Australia needed a strong start in response to India’s huge score, but Shikha Pandey did not allow Beth Muuni (1) to dismiss it in the second over of the innings. Mooney was bowled by Shika. Australia’s second and third wickets also fell soon. Captain Meg Lening (0) was bowled by Jhulan Goswami while Nicole Bolton (14) became the victim of Dipti Sharma. Even before ten overs, Australia was trapped in three difficulties losing three wickets. After three wickets down to 21 runs, Australia continued their struggle with Elise Parry and Elise Williamey. Vilany was more aggressive than the two of them. During this time he completed his third half-century of career. When this couple was becoming dangerous for India, then spinner Rajeshwari brought significant success for Gaekwad team. He caught a scintillating Elise Allyn (75 runs, 58 balls, 13 fours) on a mid-on with a dash. Australia’s fourth wicket dropped to a score of 126. Shoaib Pandey, caught by wicketkeeper Sushma Verma, was the fifth wicket to fall in the form of Elise Perry, who scored 38 runs (56 balls, 3 fours) in Australia’s team. Sixth wicket by Elisa Hilly and seventh wicket a. Dropped as Gardner. Hili was caught by Jhulan Goswami with Shikha Pandey while Gardner caught by Poonam Yadav, Mithali Raj caught it. Jesse Jonas was run out as the eighth wicket. Shut was quickly out in the form of the ninth wicket but for the last wicket, Blackwell increased the concern of the Indian team by sharing a 76-run partnership with Kristen Beams. Eventually, this couple was broken by Deepti Sharma. He made Blackwell bold on 90 runs (56 balls, 10 fours, 3 sixes). For India, Deepti Sharma picked up three wickets while Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey were successful in taking two wickets each.
Earlier, the Indian team started to bat in the match was extremely disappointing and in the first over, the team had to lose the memory of Mandhana (6) in the over. On the second ball of this over, Smriti chaired the ball but he had to lose the wicket on the last ball. Madhana was caught by Kulwinder on the shot. At the fall of the first wicket, only six runs were involved in the team’s account. Poonam Raut and Mithali Raj added 29 runs for the second wicket. Poonam Raut (14) was also out on 35 runs. Gardner caught by Beth Mooney in the 10th over of the innings The team score was 35 runs at that time. After this Harmanpreet speeded up the score. He also put two fours in the shot. After 15 overs, India scored 55 runs losing two wickets. Skipper Mithali was dismissed for 36 and missed out on making his 50th fifty in ODIs. He was bowled by Kristen Beams. The Indian captain faced 61 balls and hit two fours in his innings.
Immediately after Mithali was dismissed, Harmanpreet completed his half-century. After this, he took the news of the Kangaroo bowlers very well. He strengthened the innings in the best manner. In the 35th over of the innings, he completed his third ODI century. For this, he faced 90 balls and hit 12 fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, the centennial partnership between Harmapreet and Dipti was also completed. In the last moments of the day, Harmanpreet batted extremely well and in the 37th over, Gardner’s ball consisted of two sixes and two fours. Total: India’s fourth wicket fell in the form of Deepti Sharma, who was dismissed by Alice Wiley. After this, Veda Krishnamurthy gave a good deal of Harmanpreet. The duo added 57 runs in the batting powerplay of four overs. Megan Shut, Ashley Gardner, Kirsten Beams, Alice Villani took one wicket each from Australia.
Both teams are as follows.
India: Mitali Raj (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Raut, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gaikwad and Poonam Yadav.
Australia: Meg Lenning (Captain), Beth Mooney, Nicole Bolton, Elise Perry, Elise Williams, Alex Blackwell, Elisa Hilly, Ashley Gardner, Jesse Johnson, Megan Shut and Christine Beams
