WWC 2017 | INDIA MADE IT POSSIBLE AFTER 8 LONG YEARS

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM INDIA

It was a very important Saturday in women's cricketing landscape of India.India was fighting it out against New Zealand.This would have been the end or new beginning for india in this Women's World cup 2017.

England,South Africa & Australia had already booked their spot in the semis whereas Windies,Pakistan & Sri Lanka are already out of contention.That left India & New-Zealand fighting out for the single spot remaining in the knockout.

   

                                                                               image source: inda women's cricket twitter

    NewZealand won the toss and Suzie Bates chose to bowl on a fresh pitch at the County Ground in Derby.Indian Captain wasn't unhappy about the prospect of batting first as she believed that scoreboard pressure will come handy in a knockout game.India got off to the worst possible start by losing both the openers Smriti Mandhana & Punam Raut early without giving a platform.That was when the crisis woman of Indian cricket came to rescue the sinking ship as she has been doing over 18 years since making her debut in 1999.Accused of playing too slow against Australia in the previous match that cost India of crucial runs,she showed the intent today straightaway.Her strike rate never dropped remained above 70 mark for most part of her innings early on.

    Indian vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur who didnt get much game time in this World Cup was sent early today to get accustomed to batting long.She scored a useful 60 from 90 balls and stitched useful partnership with her captain.But just when it looked like India are gonna accelerate in the batting power-play they lost 2 quick wickets of Kaur and Deepti Sharma. Veda Krishnamurthy who displayed some superb powerhitting in the last ten overs by hitting 70 off just 45 balls staedied the ship.It was because of her mainly that India was able to cross the psychological 250 run mark. The combo of Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur took India to a sizable total of 265-7. It was upto the bowlers then to defend this target against a strong Kiwi Batting lineup and keep the Indian hopes alive.

    Facing a respectable total of 265, the mighty Kiwi batting line up could never come in terms with the Indian bowlers. Jhulan Goswami & Shikha Pandey with one wicket each made it 7-2 under 3 overs. New Zealand never could overcome the initial jolt and kept on losing wickets regularly. Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad hit the last pins in the coffin of the kiwis and packing them back home. Rajeshwari, who was sitting in the dugout for six games comes back in and walks away with a five-for and didn't permit the kiwis to even cross the double digit score as they eventually get bundled out for a lowly 79. India thus made into the semi-final of an ICC event since 2010

    The star of the day was definitely Mithali Raj who scored her 6th ODI hundred and held the Indian innings together as she has done on numerous ocassions. Raj has been in superb form in what may be her last World Cup & has been the highest run getter for India in this tournament.