India women’s cricket team produced yet another phenomenal bowling performance to remain unbeaten in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 on Thursday, beating New Zealand women by three runs at the Manuka Oval, Canberra. With this win, India becomes the first team to reach the semi-finals and the netizens on Twitter applauded the team. With India through from Group A, only one from either defending champions Australia or New Zealand will reach the knockouts.
India defended a total of 133, with New Zealand taking the same to agonizingly close to the target courtesy lower-order batter Amelia Kerr’s 19-ball unbeaten 34-run knock, that had India under the pump late in the match.
After being put in to bat, India again had a whirlwind start with Shafali Verma, who was dropped twice, racing to a 38-ball 46. However, Smriti Mandhana dragged one on to her stumps off Lea Tahuhu in the 3rd over for 11, then came Tanya Bhatia, who scored briskly to support Verma. Tanya added 23 off 25 balls as he stitched a 51-run partnership with Verma.
ALSO READ: Prithvi Shaw Misses Practice Session Due To Foot Injury
However, with Bhatia’s wicket, India another middle-order collapse losing four wickets for just 36 runs. But, useful contributions down the order from Shikha Pandey (10*) and Radha Yadav (14), pushed India’s total to 133/8.
In reply, New Zealand never got the momentum they were looking for as they lost their top-three cheaply, including the big wickets of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine. The latter mistimed a full toss off Poonam Yadav to Radha Yadav at extra cover. Maddy Green and Katey Martin then revived Nz’s chase with a stand of 43 runs for the fourth wicket.
ALSO READ: Ajinkya Rahane Urges Indian Players To Forgot The Wellington Loss
But, with the asking rate going up, both the well-set batters perished trying to up the ante. India looked to be cruising comfortably towards a win but Kerr took 18 runs off Poonam Yadav’s final over – the 19 of the match – and brought down the equation to 16 off 6. However, Pandey successfully defended 16 in the final over as he gave away just 12.
Here is how netizens reacted to India’s win:
INDIA WIN A THRILLER!
New Zealand make a fight of it, but Shikha Pandey holds her cool in the final over to take her team to the #T20WorldCup semi-final!#INDvNZ | #T20WorldCup
📝 https://t.co/FOcEv7TSQx pic.twitter.com/5bisscAHxA
— ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2020
Australia ✔
Bangladesh ✔
New Zealand ✔#TeamIndia storm into the #T20WorldCup semi-finals, beating the @WHITE_FERNS in a thriller. 💪🇮🇳📸: @T20WorldCup#SaddaPunjab #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/RtEZZNasSa
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) February 27, 2020
Wooohooooo its a hatrick…well done girls…. #womeninblue #TeamIndia awesommmmmmmeee win….so proud of you all..!!
— varalaxmi sarathkumar (@varusarath) February 27, 2020
Congratulations to @BCCIWomen for qualifying in the semis of the @T20WorldCup 👍
More power to you #TeamIndia
— RIDHIMA PATHAK (@PathakRidhima) February 27, 2020
Semi-finals here we come! 👊#TeamIndia beat NZ by 3 runs to continue their unbeaten streak in the #T20WorldCup 💪
📷 : @T20WorldCup#INDvNZ | #HallaBol pic.twitter.com/nGZuu5lwbG
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) February 27, 2020
All the besttt to our #womeninblue #Teamindia lettttssss doooooo thissss gurlssssss…sending you loads of love ♥ ♥ 😘😘😘 #INDvsNZ #T20WorldCup
— varalaxmi sarathkumar (@varusarath) February 27, 2020
India through to the Semis. Batted first on all three occasions and bowlers have successfully defended every time. Spin to Win. Now, only one of Aus and NZ can reach the final four. #IndvNZ #WT20WC
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 27, 2020
Highest career strike rates in women's T20Is (min. 200 runs)
1️⃣ Shafali Verma – 438 runs at 147.97
2️⃣ Chloe Tryon – 722 runs at 138.31
3️⃣ Alyssa Healy – 1,875 runs at 129.66The 16-year-old is top of the tree 🌲#INDvNZ | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GaVkk5rGOk
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 27, 2020
It's 16 year old, Shafali Verma again 🇮🇳🙌 #INDWvNZW #INDvNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/PRMHWNB8fk
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 27, 2020
Into the #T20WorldCup semi-finals in style 😎
Shafali Verma bagged another Player of the Match award for her blitz up top, while Shikha Pandey held her nerve at the death to ensure India got their third win on the trot 👌🏻#INDvNZ #YehHaiNayiDilli #ThisIsNewDelhi #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/zH8FjmkHHo
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 27, 2020
Deepti Sharma:
50th wicket in ODIs – Suzie Bates (Napier, 2019)
50th wicket in T20Is – Suzie Bates (T20 CWC, 2020)#INDvNZ #T20WorldCup— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 27, 2020
Nail-biting finish!
WELL PLAYED #TeamIndia !
PROUD OF YOU GIRLS!!#India beat #NewZealand by 3 runs, become the first team to qualify for semi-finals.#INDvNZ #WithTheWhiteFerns #T20WorldCup
CONGRATULATIONS! pic.twitter.com/mI8NOpvvvm— Doordarshan National (@DDNational) February 27, 2020
That last six from Radha Yadav looking even better now! #INDvNZ
— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) February 27, 2020
