1st Semi-Final, Birmingham, August 06, 2022, 03:30 PM
India Women
164/5(20.0ov)
England Women
160/6(20.0ov)
India Women beat England Women by 4 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Commentry
That's all we have from this match. The second semi-final between Australia Women and New Zealand Women is coming up shortly. The action will start at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT) but you can join us in advance for the build-up. See you then!
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India Women, says that she needed to be fired up in the middle and remain involved in the game. Praises Smriti Mandhana for her knock and mentions that whoever is performing can keep on scoring the runs. On Shafali's bowling, Kaur replies that she is very confident about her skills and enjoys her bowling. Shares that they will watch the second semi-final and try to learn and plan accordingly.
Smriti Mandhana, the top scorer for India Women, comes up for a chat. She says that she was hoping to get over the line in this tense game. Admits that the fielding was not up to the mark. Tells that Deepti Sharma's overs in the middle were important and also praises Sneh Rana for handling the pressure. Regarding her form, Smriti Mandhana replies that she has been batting well and is happy to find the touch. She hopes to repeat the same in the final also.
Earlier, it was an excellent batting show by India Women, powered by Smriti Mandhana's fabulous knock. They did stutter a bit in the middle phase but then managed to finish strongly with a challenging total on the board with the help of Jemimah Rodrigues' innings.
England Women will be hurting! They had this game in their grasp but it slipped away towards the end. 48 runs were needed off 30 balls with 7 wickets in hand but the home team failed to get the final push and suffered a heartbreaking loss. The start from them was brilliant and despite losing wickets, England Women were in control of the required rate. Credit to India Women for hanging in there and creating opportunities. They seized the initiative when it mattered the most and then managed to close the game in their favour.
Revenge is a dish best served cold - India Women have done it, they have avenged their loss in the 2017 World Cup final and in the 2018 T20 World Cup semi-final by knocking out the home team, England Women from the gold medal race. The Indian players are ecstatic. What a win for them!
In over# 20
6
1
1
0W
1
0
Sneh Rana 28/2(4)
19.6
6
SIX! But that won't be enough! England Women are knocked out. Floated delivery, full and around off, Sophie Ecclestone advances down the track and powers it over long on. India Women win by 4 runs and are in the final!
19.5
1
India have secured a place in the final, if there is no drama on the final ball. Fullish and on middle, knocked down to long on for just a single.
19.4
1
Put down! Fuller and around middle, Sophie lofts it without much timing to long on where Harleen Deol (sub) puts down a straightforward catch. A single is taken.
Sophie Ecclestone is the new batter in.
19.3
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Flighted and full, around middle, Katherine Brunt plays a mistimed aerial shot, from the bottom half of her bat and it is a simple catch for Harmanpreet Kaur at mid off. Big blow to England.
19.2
1
Full toss around off, Maia walks forward and pushes it to mid off for a quick run. 13 needed off 4 balls.
19.1
.
Stumping appeal! Sneh Rana fires it full and wide outside off, Maia Bouchier flashes at it but misses. Taniya Bhatia takes the bails off. The replays find that Maia Bouchier's back leg is just inside the crease.
Slow over-rate means that India Women will have to put one extra fielder inside the ring. Sneh Rana to bowl...
In over# 19
0
1W
4lb
6
1
1
Pooja Vastrakar 20/0(3)
18.6
.
Short in length and outside off, Brunt tries to pull but misses. 14 needed off 6 balls.
Katherine Brunt is the new batter.
18.5
W
OUT! SCIVER IS RUN OUT! 15 needed off 7 balls. Slower one, full and around middle, Sciver heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run. Natalie Sciver turns for the second run and tries to get in with a full-length dive but before that Smriti Mandhana has fired in an accurate throw from the deep and Taniya Bhatia breaks the stumps. The replays confirm the departure of the English skipper.