This Day That Year: Harmanpreet Kaur’s special innings in WWC 2017
Harmanpreet Kaur produced one of the best innings for ages
during the 2nd Semi-finals match against the mighty Aussies side
played at County Ground, Derby on 20th July 2017.
In a rain-curtailed match reduced to 42 overs, Indian
captain Mithali Raj won the toss and decided to bat first. Smriti Mandhana fell
cheaply in the first over by Megan Schutt. Punam Raut struggled with her timing
and was dismissed for 14.
Harmanpreet Kaur came to the crease and just took little
time to settle. The experienced duo of Raj and Kaur struggled for timing. Kaur
was given a reprieve as Healy missed a stumping chance. Both batters added 76
runs for the 3rd wicket. Kaur launched an assault on the Australian
bowling line up and reached her fifty off 64 balls.
Harmanpreet Kaur played with positive intent against the
Aussies bowlers, especially the spinners. She made up for a slow start and
punished the defending Champions with big-hitting. It was an amazing batting
display by Kaur who completed her century off 90 balls as she screamed out to
Deepti Sharma for not responding.
Kaur never looked back from there onwards and smashed the
Australian bowlers all over the park. She and Deepti Sharma added 137 runs
for the 4th wicket. Deepti Sharma contributed just 25 runs. Kaur upped
the ante as she completed 150 off 107 balls. She continued to dominate the Aussies
bowlers and remained not out on a remarkable 171 off 115 balls.
The middle-order batter was applauded for her heroics. She
hit 20 fours and 7 huge sixes during her 171*. Her knock helped Indian women’s
team posted 281 for 4 in 42 overs.
Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma, and Jhulan Goswami reduced Australia
to 21 for 3. Elyse Villani and Ellyse Perry rescued the innings with a 105
runs stand for the 4th wicket. Gayakwad got the breakthrough
dismissing dangerous Villani for 75. The Indian bowlers kept on picking wickets
at regular intervals. Despite Alex Blackwell 90 runs, Indian women’s team
register a memorable 36 runs.
Her epic 171* was the highest scorer by an Indian batter in
ICC Women’s World Cup history. The Indian women’s team reached their 2nd
ICC World Cup finals.
For her sensational knock, Kaur was awarded the player of
the match. Indian women qualified for the finals against England to be played
on 23rd July.
Indian women 281 for 4 in 42 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 171*,
Raj 36, Gardner 1/43, Beams 1/49) beat Australian women 245 in 40.1 overs (
Alex Blackwell 90, Villani 75, Deepti Sharma 3/59, Shikha Pandey 2/17) by 36
runs.
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| This Day That Year: Harmanpreet Kaur posted career-defining 171* against Australia in WWC 2017 SF |
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