Shafali, Smriti rattle Australia, India back in hunt for final

Melbourne, February 8

Smriti Mandhana struck a sublime half-century as India recorded a seven-wicket win over Australia, keeping their hopes alive for a place in the final of the women’s T20 Tri-series.

Australia posted 173/5 courtesy a 57-ball 93 from Ashleigh Gardner and Meg Lanning’s 22-ball 37 after India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur elected to field at Junction Oval. India then overhauled the target in 19.4 overs, largely due to opener Shafali Verma’s 49 off 28 balls and Smriti’s 55 off 48 balls.

After two failures, sixteen-year-old Shafali gave India a flying start, smashing eight fours and a beautifully-timed straight six. Her senior opening partner Smriti anchored the case with a solid knock comprising seven fours. The two powered India to 85 in the ninth over when Shafali fell, caught by Nicola Carey off Ellyse Perry. No. 3 Jemimah Rodrigues made a quickfire 19-ball 30, studded with five hits to the fence, adding 37 off 4.1 overs with Smriti. Jemimah’s innings was cut short when she holed out to Alyssa Healy off Megan Schutt in the 13th over.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Smriti and the two added 42 runs in six overs to take India close to the target. When Smriti was trapped LBW by Nicola Carey in the 19th over, India needed 10 off nine balls. No. 5 Deepti Sharma was equal to the task, however, as she struck two fours off the four balls she faced, and remained unbeaten on 11. Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 20 off 20 balls, with one six.

Earlier, Ashleigh sent the ball across the fence 11 times and blasted three sixes in her 57-ball innings to emerge as the top-scorer for Australia.

For India, Deepti Sharma (2/27) was the pick of the bowlers, while Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/34), Radha Yadav (1/34) and Harleen Deol (1/21) took one wicket each. — PTI

The big chase

India today recorded their highest successful chase in T20Is. Top-5:

Target Against

• 174 AUS (Melbourne, 2020)
• 165 SA (Potchefstroom, 2018)
• 148 ENG (Canberra, 2020)
• 143 SA (East London, 2018)
• 141 AUS (Adelaide, 2016)

This was the third highest chase in women’s T20Is. Top-5:

Target Winner Against

• 199 ENG India (2018)
• 179 ENG AUS (2017)
• 174 India AUS (2020)
• 173 SA PAK (2019)
• 165 India SA (2018)

India moved to the second position in the points table behind England. The winner of the final league match between Australia and England will decide the finalists for the title clash.

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