IND vs IRE: India qualify for Ladies’s T20 World Cup semifinals, Smriti Mandhana shines
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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Supply: PTI |Updated: Feb 20, 2023, 11: 47 PM IST
IND vs IRE: India qualify for Ladies’s T20 World Cup semifinals, Smriti Mandhana shines | Characterize: ANI
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana stood out with a occupation-most efficient 56-ball 87 as India entered the semifinals of the Ladies’s T20 World Cup with a 5-trot cling over Ireland in a rain-affected match in Gqebera, South Africa, on Monday.
On a ground that was as soon as removed from ultimate for batting and the attach most struggled to power the slide, Mandhana led by example with 9 ravishing fours and three sixes to back India attain 155 for six within the stipulated 20 overs. In acknowledge, Ireland got off to a disastrous commence as opener Amy Hunter (1) was as soon as trot out earlier than Renuka Singh bowled Orla Prendergast for nought.
Reeling at 2/1 within the very first over, Ireland recovered to attain 54 for two within the ninth over, when the heavens spread out and pressured the gamers inner. Play did now not resume thereafter. At that point, Ireland mandatory 102 runs in 70 balls and were 5 runs within the help of the Duckworth/Lewis par score of 59, paving the manner for India’s victory.
When the recreation was as soon as interrupted, Gaby Lewis and skipper Laura Delany were batting on 32 and 17 respectively. India are attach to capture on defending champions Australia within the final four stage. Here is India’s third successive semifinal appearance following the one in 2018 and runners-up effect in 2020. With the cling, final edition’s runners-up India bounced help from the 11-trot defeat to England in their earlier match.
Earlier, opting to bat after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (13) won the toss, India were off to a ravishing commence with the opening duo of Mandhana and Shafali Verma striking on 62 runs in appropriate beneath 10 overs at St George’s Park.
Nonetheless Shafali as soon as again got out after getting a commence, caught by Amy Hunter off the bowling of captain Delany, who launched herself into the assault after the frontline bowlers did now not bag the team a step forward.
Harmanpreet joined Mandhana within the center, and the 2 looked to effect on a partnership. Playing strokes changed into out to be refined on a ground that appeared to be a bit on the slower facet.
The gradual nature of the wicket notwithstanding, Mandhana maintained an nice strike rate and reached her half of-century current, hitting leg-spinner Cara Murray for a six over deep mid-wicket.
Mandhana was as soon as lucky to have survived a fear appropriate earlier than getting to her fifty, however Arlene Kelly couldn’t total the resolve after the batter high-edged a tossed-up provide from Murray against mid-wicket.
Mandhana then struck two successive fours off Georgina Dempsey, earlier than sending Delany over the cow corner for one other maximum.
Ireland came help with the wickets of Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh in successive balls, however Mandhana persevered to assault the bowlers and hit two more boundaries off Kelly earlier than giving the an identical treatment to Delany, placing her for a four and a six to back India plod against 150.
A century was as soon as on the cards, however Mandhana’s supreme innings came to an close as she tried to capture the aerial route. Jemimah Rodrigues struck two fours within the last over, earlier than getting off within the final ball of the India innings for a 12-ball 19.
