New Delhi: Spirited India beat New Zealand in a thriller to seal cement a semifinal berth with their third straight win in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday.
With this win, India stands at the top of their Group A with 6 points from 3 matches.
Batting first, India managed to put just 133 runs on the board in the stipulated 20 overs but their spinners once again rose to the occasion to defend the modest total. However, Amelia Kerr held her nerves to bring the situation down to 5 runs off the last delivery with her 19-ball 34 but could not see her side through as New Zealand suffered a heart-breaking 4-run defeat.
Defending the total, India introduced spin straight away but Deepti Sharma bled 12 runs with opener Rachel Priest (12) hitting her for two boundaries. But experienced pacer Shikha Pandey removed Priest in the next over when she had her caught at mid wicket.
With Shikha and left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowling in tandem, New Zealand played with caution to reach 28 for one. Poonam Yadav and Radha Yadav then mounted the pressure on the Kiwis and soon the Black Caps were 34 for 3 when the former dismissed skipper Sophie Devine (14).
Needing 44 off 21 balls, Kerr (34) blasted four boundaries to accumulate 18 runs in the penultimate over bowled by Poonam to bring the equation down to 16 off six balls. In the final over, Heyley Jensen (11) and Kerr cracked a four each but Shikha held her nerves in the end to complete the win.
Dancing Rodrigues
India’ classy top-order batsman Jemimah Rodrigues showcased her dancing skills along with an off-duty security guard. See the video shared by ICC.
Yes, @JemiRodrigues! ??
Busting moves with an off-duty security guard at the #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ehUdGQc3QV
— ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2020
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