The tournament co-hosts were pitted against each other for the final four spots in the final four on Sunday as England rallied for a four-run victory over India to advance to the semifinals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
India struggled to find a winning target in their 50 overs, falling just short as they were beaten to a winning target by 289 runs.
Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 88 runs while Harmanpreet Kaur, the team’s skipper, hit a 70 run-a-ball. They were almost on the verge of winning the majority of their innings.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, England’s captain, picked up 2-47 and left-arm spinner Linsey Smith put the brakes on the home side with a score of 1-40 in 10 overs, including Mandhana’s crucial wicket.
India stunned the home crowd at Holkar Stadium with its third straight defeat, which came after defeats to Australia and South Africa.
After England decided to bat first, Heather Knight scored 109 off 91 balls to post the score of 288-8.
With a fourth win in five games, England defeated defending champions Australia and South Africa in the semifinals. On Wednesday, the four-time champions travel to Australia at the same venue.
In their final two group games against Bangladesh on Sunday and New Zealand on Thursday, India are still fourth with four points from five games.
According to Kaur, “Smriti’s dismissal was the turning point.” “We had enough batting to bring the game to a close, but I don’t know how things turned out.” England deserves praise for consistently taking wickets and bowling well.
On Monday, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, co-hosts, will square off in Navi Mumbai.
India is on par with it
The chase didn’t begin at their best. Harleen Deol’s leg was pinned before wicket by Charlie Dean, who was caught behind for six.
With India seemingly cruising on a batting-friendly surface, Mandhana and Kaur then combined for a 42-2 lead before adding 125 runs off 122 balls for the third wicket.
Kaur and Mandhana both preferred playing anchor roles while Kaur made up for it with 54 balls. She won 60 balls to reach her second successive fifty.
Although it was impossible for Sciver-Brunt to defeat Kaur, India remained the clear winner.
With Mandhana, Deepti Sharma added 67 off of a 66 and hit 50 off a 57.
India lacked 62 for the final 60 deliveries, but Mandhana’s momentum gained when he went for a big shot in the 42nd over over Smith and was caught on the boundary.
In the 47th over, India dropped from 234-3 to 262-6, with Sharma being outclassed by Sophie Ecclestone (58).
As Amanjot Kaur (18 points out) and Sneh Rana (10 points out) couldn’t put an end to the chase, England put more pressure on themselves.
Knight excels
To lead England’s innings, Knight scored her third ODI hundred.
With openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont (22), England made a strong start with 73 runs. Jones ran out of 68 balls to score 56.
Before Knight took over the innings, which included a 113-run third-wicket stand with Sciver-Brunt (38 off 49), off-spinner Sharma recorded both openers.
“I pushed the accelerator down and inserted myself.” On that pitch, it seemed like we needed 300, but Knight resentment over not getting there in the end. I’m pleased to give a strong performance for my 300th international game, and I was desperate to do so.
On 86 balls, including 14 fours and sixes, Knight scored her century. England slipped to the end, conceding five wickets for 31 runs in just 5.11 overs, as she was thrown out in the 45th over.
In 10 overs, Sharma returned 4-51 and the next-best century, but it was insufficient.
Source: Aljazeera
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