India v Australia at the Derby, the second semi finals was delayed by the rain and once the cover was taken off, the match was cut short to 42 overs each with not more than two bowlers bowling 9 overs.
India won the toss and without any second thoughts, they chose to bat. Australia's captain and the world no. 1 batter Meg Lanning returned to the team replacing the stand in captain Rachael Haynes.
How crucial was the toss?
When Meg Lanning had no idea about what she would have chosen if she won the toss, India's skipper Mithali Raj was confident of batting first may be because all the four matches they played in Derby, they batted first and they won it all. Batting first was the right choice.
The team which already put on a great display against the White Ferns, carrying the momentum here came off easily.
Right from the word go, the team was in the mood to attack the Australian bowlers. Even when they lost their openers in quick succession.
The rotational batting order did not come good the previous time India faced Australia as the captain's decision to send Deepti Sharma at no.9 was questioned hugely.
India stuck to the batting order which proved success against the White Ferns.
Coming at no. 4, India's best hitter, Harmanpreet Kaur was given more chance to bat and she stood for herself. When the team needed something special and extraordinary to defeat the defending champions, India's T20I captain had the answers.
Targeting the leg side for most of the runs and hitting the ball all over the ground with those "artistic" cricketing shots, Harmanpreet Kaur made sure India had enough runs on the board to overcome the Southern Stars. The Big Bash experiences came handy here.
Once in a blue moon, it takes for Australia to be on the receiving side.
It was a single woman show. Whatever Harmanpreet Kaur threw the bat at, turned gold. It was her day.
This knock, especially that unconventional way of celebrating the century will be remembered for many more years to come.
With needing more than 6 runs per over, the defending champions were already on a back foot but considering the bowling attack, India had, Australians knew that runs might flow in the form of singles and two's but sixes and fours were always going to be difficult.
They needed something big from their openers, especially from the skipper Meg Lanning.
Shikha Pandey, who had a great run in the last India-Australia series did not disappoint here as she delivered the initial break through, to put India a foot ahead.
Dispatching Meg Lanning for a duck has to be the biggest moment of the game. The veteran Jhulan Goswami who is having a quiet tournament came good with a beautiful delivery to pick up the most important wicket.
Elyse Villani and Alex Blackwell did their best to put Australia to a decent score though the victory was far.
I'm wondering, Alex Blackwell might have made a difference if she was sent little above the order.
The fast bowlers were economical while the spinners as expected was taken for runs but was able to produce the break through when needed. Though India was in short of their sixth bowler with Harmanpreet Kaur didn't field, it did not make much difference.
The defending champions were expecting an " improved India" but they wouldn't have thought this through.
Harmanpreet Kaur stood between the Australia and the Finals.
Now, the girls go back to the country with a concern of unemployment.
It was Kapil Dev in 1983 at the Lord's. Mithali Raj who already became the only Indian captain to take the team to ICC 50 Over finals twice (2005,2017) can go a step forward by lifting the cup.
This team India is perfect as the team is not depending on a particular batter the entire tournament.
The top order batters had chipped in for at least a match which is a good sign,
The bowling department is always the best for the team with the presence of Jhulan Goswami and other bowlers who played their part well even the bowlers who were sitting out for the last two matches- Mansi Joshi and Ekta Bisht have decent bowling figures to show off.
The only concern for the team is the fielding.
There have been sloppy misfields and many drop catches which can make a huge difference in a crunch game.
With an improved fielding and with this kind of batting, bowling attack India surely has the potential to lift the cup which can only be the perfect tribute to the legends like Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj who are playing their last World Cup.
India won the toss and without any second thoughts, they chose to bat. Australia's captain and the world no. 1 batter Meg Lanning returned to the team replacing the stand in captain Rachael Haynes.
1. The Toss:
Playing in their favorite ground, where they won all their 4 matches, India was running high on confidence coming from an empathic win against the White Ferns.How crucial was the toss?
When Meg Lanning had no idea about what she would have chosen if she won the toss, India's skipper Mithali Raj was confident of batting first may be because all the four matches they played in Derby, they batted first and they won it all. Batting first was the right choice.
2. The Approach:
When India lost badly to the Southern Stars in their group stages, they were hugely criticized for playing slowly and wasn't able to convert the dot balls into singles.The team which already put on a great display against the White Ferns, carrying the momentum here came off easily.
Right from the word go, the team was in the mood to attack the Australian bowlers. Even when they lost their openers in quick succession.
3. The Batting Order and Harmanpreet Kaur's Mammoth hitting:
The rotational batting order did not come good the previous time India faced Australia as the captain's decision to send Deepti Sharma at no.9 was questioned hugely.India stuck to the batting order which proved success against the White Ferns.
Coming at no. 4, India's best hitter, Harmanpreet Kaur was given more chance to bat and she stood for herself. When the team needed something special and extraordinary to defeat the defending champions, India's T20I captain had the answers.
Targeting the leg side for most of the runs and hitting the ball all over the ground with those "artistic" cricketing shots, Harmanpreet Kaur made sure India had enough runs on the board to overcome the Southern Stars. The Big Bash experiences came handy here.
Once in a blue moon, it takes for Australia to be on the receiving side.
It was a single woman show. Whatever Harmanpreet Kaur threw the bat at, turned gold. It was her day.
This knock, especially that unconventional way of celebrating the century will be remembered for many more years to come.
 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur in all anger, throwing her helmet after the risky two runs which almost got Deepti Sharma out. |
 |
| Celebrating 150* |
 |
| After scoring unbeaten 171* and taking the team to 281. |
4. Bowling
With needing more than 6 runs per over, the defending champions were already on a back foot but considering the bowling attack, India had, Australians knew that runs might flow in the form of singles and two's but sixes and fours were always going to be difficult. |
| Shikha Pandey celebrates the fall of the first wicket |
 |
| Deepti Sharma who took 3 wickets after the sharp return catch |
 |
| Australian Captain walks back dejected after falling for a duck |
 |
| Alex Blackwell who fought hard for her 90 runs was the last wicket to fall |
 |
| Blackwell gifts her Jersey to Harmanpreet after the match |
They needed something big from their openers, especially from the skipper Meg Lanning.
Shikha Pandey, who had a great run in the last India-Australia series did not disappoint here as she delivered the initial break through, to put India a foot ahead.
Dispatching Meg Lanning for a duck has to be the biggest moment of the game. The veteran Jhulan Goswami who is having a quiet tournament came good with a beautiful delivery to pick up the most important wicket.
Elyse Villani and Alex Blackwell did their best to put Australia to a decent score though the victory was far.
I'm wondering, Alex Blackwell might have made a difference if she was sent little above the order.
The fast bowlers were economical while the spinners as expected was taken for runs but was able to produce the break through when needed. Though India was in short of their sixth bowler with Harmanpreet Kaur didn't field, it did not make much difference.
The defending champions were expecting an " improved India" but they wouldn't have thought this through.
Harmanpreet Kaur stood between the Australia and the Finals.
Now, the girls go back to the country with a concern of unemployment.
5. The Conclusion
So, India goes to the Home of cricket- the Lord's for the finals.It was Kapil Dev in 1983 at the Lord's. Mithali Raj who already became the only Indian captain to take the team to ICC 50 Over finals twice (2005,2017) can go a step forward by lifting the cup.
This team India is perfect as the team is not depending on a particular batter the entire tournament.
The top order batters had chipped in for at least a match which is a good sign,
The bowling department is always the best for the team with the presence of Jhulan Goswami and other bowlers who played their part well even the bowlers who were sitting out for the last two matches- Mansi Joshi and Ekta Bisht have decent bowling figures to show off.
The only concern for the team is the fielding.
There have been sloppy misfields and many drop catches which can make a huge difference in a crunch game.
With an improved fielding and with this kind of batting, bowling attack India surely has the potential to lift the cup which can only be the perfect tribute to the legends like Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj who are playing their last World Cup.
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