Riding on Harmanpreet Kaur's 171*, Mithali Raj's outfit stun Australia by 36 runs to win Women's World Cup semi-final in Derby; final vs England on Sunday
India's Harmanpreet Kaur clouts one of her seven sixes during her unbeaten 171 off 115 balls against Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final at the County Ground in Derby. India put up an impressive 281 for four in 42 overs. PIC/BIPIN PATEL
Mithali Raj's Indian team stunned Australia last night by 36 runs to enter Sunday's ICC Women's World Cup final against England.
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Harmanpreet Kaur played inarguably one of the finest ODI innings ever to lead India to an imposing 281 for four before Australia were bowled out for 245 all out.
Clearly, the first half of the match belonged to Harmanpreet, the Indian vice-captain, who smashed her way to a career-best magical 171 off 115 balls, leaving the Australian bowlers in a daze in a match that has been curtailed to 42 overs a side due to inclement weather.
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This was India's highest ever total against the Southern Stars and could well be a match-winning total. The innings could well be termed as the best ever played by an Indian woman in the limited overs cricket. Harmanpreet's third ODI century was embellished with 20 fours and as many as seven sixes. This is also the second highest individual score in ODIs for India behind Deepti Sharma's 188 not out against South Africa earlier this year.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s teammates applaud her 150 from the dugout. PIC/BIPIN PATEL
Punjab power
It was out of the world power-hitting by the girl from Moga district in Punjab, something that has made her a stand-out player for India.
The milestone from 51 to 100 was reached in 26 balls while she raced to 150 from 101 in mere 17 balls. The sixes flew from her bat with monotonic regularity as the Aussie bowlers had no clue as to what hit them. After a dry run during the better part of the league stage, India's most sought after T20 cricketer stepped up when it mattered the most. After a useful 60 against NZ in the virtual quarter-final, Harmanpreet upped the ante like never before.
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