Harmanpreet Kaur, the star batter of the Indian ladies’s group, drew all consideration as she walked out to bat in opposition to the highly effective Australian aspect within the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s World T20 2023 at Newlands on Thursday. India confronted a frightening activity as a consequence of a lackluster fielding efficiency and Australia’s top-order dominance within the high-scoring contest in Cape Town.
Australia’s opener Beth Mooney and captain Meg Lanning led the group to a difficult complete after successful the toss and electing to bat first. India’s openers Shafali Verma (9) and Smriti Mandhana (2) didn’t ship, and with Yastika Bhatia’s dismissal, the group was getting ready to a batting collapse. However, Harmanpreet’s aggressive knock revived the hopes of the Women In Blue after being in a precarious scenario at 28/3.
Despite the early setbacks, India fought valiantly, taking the match to the final over. Harmanpreet, who battled fever hours earlier than the match, led from the entrance and scored a gritty half-century, turning the match in India’s favour. However, her unlucky dismissal allowed Lanning and her group to make a late comeback.
Harmanpreet tried a slog-sweep to the mid-wicket area to take a snug double however obtained run out as her bat obtained caught, and her toes have been within the air when wicketkeeper Healy eliminated the bails. Her dismissal within the fifteenth over shattered India’s hopes of a profitable run chase.
Harmanpreet’s counter-attacking partnership of 69 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues gave India some momentum, however their dismissals proved to be the turning level, and the group collapsed. Although Harmanpreet reached her half-century in simply 32 deliveries, her odd run-out, the primary in 5 years, introduced her fantastic knock to an finish.
