What a performance by the Women’s cricket team! Mithali Raj and Co. defeated defending champions Australia by a margin of 36 runs. India entered the final of Women’s World Cup and will play against England at Lords’ on 23rd July.
Winning the toss, Mithali Raj opted batting. After two quick wickets, the captain and Harmanreet Kaur held Indian innings. Harmanpreet played a gem of an innings. She made 171* in just 115 balls to take India to a score of 281 runs in 42 overs. Kaur hit 7 sixes and 20 fours in her match-winning knock.
Australia’s innings never rolled smoothly. Veteran Jhulan Goswami and pacer Shikha Pandey removed the openers. Though there was some resistance from Elyse Villani who scored 75 of 62 deliveries, Indian bowlers never let things slip by. They kept on taking wickets at regular intervals. But towards the end Alex Blackwell gave some nervous moments to India as she scored a blistering innings of 90 runs. She almost took the match away from India. Finally Deepti Sharma took the final wicket and Australian innings came to an end at 245.
