A victory for Team India against Australia in the semi-finals is what everyone wished for. But, it seems another flavor of amusement is added to the match, and that is nothing but Indian middle-order batsman Harmanpreet Kaur’s astonishing century that was a just-missed double century.
TeamIndia was starving at 101-3 when Harmanpreet Kaur came to strike and her back-to-back deliveries bagged an another 171 runs in 115 balls (20X4, 7X6) adding an amazing amount of runs to the team circling at 281-4 altogether. Post the match, when asked about her experience and opinion on this, she said:
“I didn’t get to chance in the whole tournament, but today when I got my chance. I utilized my chance and thanks to God. Mithali and Veda also scored really well. I was watching the ball and hitting it well. I found my areas and executed it to perfection. I was hitting the ball and told Deepthi to give the strike. She pretty much did it. They are a good side, still, we need to focus well on our bowling.”
She then added: If we can bowl well in our power play we can fancy our chances. It was the heat of the moment thing (speaking about the nearly-chaotic run when she completed her 100). We were going well. I didn’t want to lose the wicket and I didn’t want her to lose her wicket as well. I got angry and then I apologized to her. It’s all fine now.”
That moment after the 42 overs was just unforgettable, as she walks off to the pavilion, she received a glorious standing ovation. The entire ground rose as one to applaud what has been the knock of a lifetime. You cannot ask for more, can you? She ends up as the fifth highest run-scorer in the list of all-time highest scorers in ODI cricket. She hasn’t been in the best of nicks, but today when skipper Mithali got out at a crucial time, Harmanpreet took the mantle and unfurled every possible cricketing shot off the textbook.
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On the other side, Twitterati went praising her for the finest consistency and batting style.
Check out the Tweets here:
An Innings of a lifetime , Harmanpreet Kaur . What wonderful clean hitting. More than 60% of India’s runs.
Fan ! Over to the Bowlers now. pic.twitter.com/xZlIB2SW4x— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 20, 2017
Wow ! What an incredible innings from @ImHarmanpreet .Great reaction from Deepti in helping her on the 100th run.
Come on India .#INDvsAUS— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 20, 2017
Incredible batting by @ImHarmanpreet! Come on India- Let’s go out and win the second half of the game as well. #AUSvIND #WWC17 #WomenInBlue
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 20, 2017
What a sensational 100 by @ImHarmanpreet , one of the best innings I have ever seen on a cricket field. In a WC semi-finals.#IndvAus
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 20, 2017
Harmanpreet Kaur
1st 50 in 64 balls
2nd 50 in 26 balls
3rd 50 in 17 balls
last 21 in 8 balls#WWC17 #IndvsAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 20, 2017
Australia’s bowling is coming apart in the face of an astonishing innings from @ImHarmanpreet. Never seen such hitting.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 20, 2017
Prior to this inning, I watched @vedakmurthy08 cream NZ the other day and thought she is unmatched, but, @ImHarmanpreet is sheer destruction
— Praveen Gupta (@WizardprinceWP) July 20, 2017
Interruption hasn’t affected @ImHarmanpreet ! Two sixes and two fours in one over. On fire. #IndvAus #WWC17
— Rahul Bose (@RahulBose1) July 20, 2017
She’s stamped her class & how. An absolute gem of a knock from @ImHarmanpreet Big stage, big occasion & she’s risen to it #WCC2017 #IndvAus
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) July 20, 2017
Congratulations @ImHarmanpreet a truly special knock in such a huge game #INDvAUS
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) July 20, 2017
More to follow.. Refresh the page to see updated tweets about the match. Stay tuned for more updates.