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After fighting through qualifiers to even reach the World Cup, the Indian women managed to beat six-time winners and defending champions Australia to reach the tournament’s summit clash on Thursday.
The odds were stacked against India in the women’s World Cup semi-final, but as this team has proven time and again, they somehow find a way to finish on top.
Let’s start from late June and trace the Indian women’s team’s journey to the final against England.
India’s first match was against hosts and two-time former champions England and clearly, India weren’t the favourites. But Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut changed that plan. A 144-run opening partnership and India had 281 on the board. The bowlers made sure India won by 35 runs
India’s first win started a four-match winning streak with victories over West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The match against Pakistan is one not to be forgotten easy. After scoring just 169/9 in their 50 overs, India had Ekta Bisht step up and pick a fifer. Pakistan were bowled out for 74!
Then, India hit a roadblock that threatened to derail their campaign – there were two back-to-back losses, against South Africa and then Australia. But skipper Mithali Raj then showed the way. In the match against Australia she reached a personal landmark of being the highest-scorer in women’s one day cricket.
Fun Fact: The Indian team now boasts of the highest scorer and highest wicket taker in the 50-over format.
Then came the must-win match against New Zealand and Mithali led the way with 109 to set a target of 265, and the bowlers rose to the occasion once again. Rajeshwari Gayakwad had a fifer and the opponents were bowled out for 79! India had reached the semi-finals.
The final four match was all about just one woman and her bat. Harmanpreet Kaur walked in at 35/2 and the rest is all a blur of numbers. She smashed a record-breaking 171 not-out off 115 balls which included 20 boundaries and 7 sixes. She scored 19 runs in the first 38 balls she faced and in the final 34 she smashed 93!
How’s that for acceleration!
Here’s hoping there’s a little more left in the tank for India – hosts England await on Sunday at the home of cricket.
(Camera: Shiv Kumar Maurya, Edit: Hitesh Singh)
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