India reached the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup with a dramatic win over Australia in Derby on Thursday. Australia had the upper hand before the match because they thrashed India by 8 wickets during the league stage.
India seemed to be heading to another loss, when they managed just 101 runs in 25 overs.
But then the Harmanpreet Kaur show began. She constructed a marvelous innings of 171 runs of just 115 balls and helped India post a daunting total of 281/4 in 42 overs. Kaur struck 20 boundaries and four sixes during the course of her innings.
As India reach their second World Cup final, here’s a look at the five stars of India’s campaign in this tournament.
1. Mithali Raj
Captain Mithali Raj has led from the front this tournament. She is the second highest-scorer in the competition with 392 runs at the moment.
She has played two brilliant knocks under pressure in this competition. The first of which was against England in the team’s opening match.
Mithali smashed 71 runs off 73 balls and helped India post a big total of 281/3 in 50 overs. India eventually won the match by 35 runs.
The next great innings came against New Zealand, when India had their backs against the wall. They needed a win to qualify for the semis.
The 34-year-old stepped up and scored 109 runs off 123 balls. India posted a total of 265/7 and eventually won the match by a whopping 186 runs.
2. Harmanpreet Kaur
India’s T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur went through poor performances with the bat for four matches in a row before getting a steady 60 off 90 balls against New Zealand.
But when it mattered the most, the 28-year-old came up with a scintillating innings against Australia in the semi-finals.
India needed a big total if they wanted to command the game against Australia and Harmanpreet gave India just that.
She walked into bat in the 10th over when India were struggling at 35/2. She then batted for the next 32.4 overs, hitting the bowlers all over the park.
India eventually won the match by 36 runs.
3. Punam Raut
Punam Raut is the third highest scorer for India in this tournament with 295 runs. Raut, who has scored a fifty and a century in the competition so far, has notched runs, when the chips were down for India.
In the match against Pakistan, when the ball was swinging around, the opening batter hung on and played a gritty innings of 47 runs from 72 balls. India managed to reach a total of 169/9, which eventually turned out to be enough.
In the game against Australia in the league phase, all the Indian batters were struggling against a fiery bowling attack, but not Raut.
The 27-year-old scored 106 runs off 136 balls, which helped India post a total of 226/7. It wasn’t great, but it was at least something the bowlers could bowl with.
4. Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma has been India’s best bowler in the tournament so far. The off-spinner is the fourth highest wicket-taker in the competition with 12 wickets at an average of 27.58. She has also bowled at an incredible economy rate of 4.75.
The 19-year-old’s best performances in this competition have come against two big teams England and Australia.
She may have had a high economy rate in both the matches, but she picked up three wickets in each of the matches as well.
The left-hand batter has also notched 202 runs, which includes an innings of 78 runs in 110 balls.
5. Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana gave India the start they were looking for in this competition. The opening batter raced to 90 runs off 70 balls in the match against England and then followed it up with a crackling century against West Indies.
But then, the 21-year-old fizzled out. She has not been able to put together an innings thereafter. However, India have capitalised on the emphatic start provided by Mandhana.
She might just have a final hurrah against England in the final at Lord’s on Sunday. After all, England is a team, she has done well against.
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