KAUR POWER TAKES INDIA TO WC FINAL
Moga’s Harmanpreet Kaur (right) acknowledges the crowd’s cheers after reaching 150 against Australia in the Women’s World Cup semifinal in Derby, England, on Thursday.
DERBY: Harmanpreet Kaur played the innings of her life as her unbeaten 171 took India to a total of 281/4 against Australia in the semi-final of the ICC women’s cricket World Cup, in Derby on Thursday.
India were slow off the blocks as they lost openers Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut within the first 10 overs. However, skipper Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur got together in a 66-run stand to steady the Indian innings.
While Mithali Raj fell for 36, Harmanpreet held on and gradually picked up pace as she dismantled the Australian bowling line-up.
Harmanpreet completed her century from 90 balls, and the right-hander batter hit a flurry of sixes and fours to add 71 more runs from her next 25 deliveries. She was ably supported by Deepti Sharma, who scored 25, while Veda Krishnamurthy scored an unbeaten 16 to help India reach 281/4 in the 42 overs.
Delirium at Bhullar household
The phone has not stopped ringing at the Bhullar household in Moga (Punjab) since the cricketer started swatting the Australian bowlers out of the park at Derby in the ongoing ICC Women’s World in the second semifinal. Her father Harmander Singh Bhullar told Hindustan Times, “The real celebrations will only start when India wins the match and storms into the final.”
But he could not hide his feelings on the Harmanpreet’s spectacular knock.
“I am so proud of Harman. She has made not only us but the whole nation proud by doing well in the crucial match. She was really frustrated on missing out in the previous matches due to the finger injury she suffered against the West Indies. She will be relieved today. Waheguru jee has blessed my daughter today and hope to see India making it to the final and at Lords,” he added.
Batting at number four, Harmanpreet Kaur smashed 115-ball unbeaten knock of 171 runs to set up India to a huge total of 281 for 4 in 42 overs. Harman bettered her previous ODI best score of 107 runs. She hammered 20 fours and seven towering sixes during her blistering knock at the strike rate of 148.69.
Harmanpreet, who started as a medium-pacer in Moga, switched to batting under coach Yadavinder Singh Sodhi. Daughter of a clerk in the local District Court became the first woman to be signed by Sydney Thunder in the second edition of T20 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia. She would also be playing in the England Kia T20 League in August.