‘India will win the World Cup’- Fans elated as India advance to Women’s 20-20 World Cup semi-finals after defeating Ireland
India advanced to the semi-final of the Women’s 20-20 World Cup after defeating Ireland by five runs in a rain-affected group game St George’s Park, Gqeberha in Gqeberha on Monday.
Having won the toss, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat, and the Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave their side an excellent start. They put on 62 for the first wicket, with Mandhana doing the bulk of the scoring. The stylish southpaw carried on batting serenely even as a succession of batting partners struggled to find their rhythm, bringing up a half-century in 40 balls.
Mandhana’s onslaught finally came to an end in the penultimate over as she departed having scored a career-best 87 off 56 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Verma was the next highest scorer for India with a rather sedate 24 of 29. For the Irish, Laura Delany impressed with figures of 3/33 in her four overs, supported well by Orla Prendergast, who finished with 2/22.
The Irish chase got off to the worst possible start as they lost a wicket off the very first ball of the innings, an almost unbelievable run-out. The second followed just four balls later, with Renuka Thakur castling Prendergast, reducing Ireland to 2/1 in the first over. However, smart batting from Gaby Lewis and Delany helped them mount a comeback, and they brought up Ireland’s 50 in the eighth over.
It was the rain gods who would have the last laugh – at 54/2 in 8.2 overs, the heavens opened up with Ireland five runs behind the DLS par score of 59 at that stage. No action would be possible following the showers, with India picking up the win and progressing to the semi-finals along with England while Ireland end their campaign with four losses from as many matches.
Here’s how fans reacted to the win:
Pity we couldn’t get a full game but many Congratulations #TeamIndia on making it to the semi-finals. @mandhana_smriti was special today and wishing the team all the very best for the semifinals #IndvsIre pic.twitter.com/0X2YQWs9d6
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 20, 2023
lucky escape for @ImHarmanpreet and team today. #IndvsIre .. Can't see the hunger to win, except for a few players. Smriti, Richa, Jemimah, Renuka have been the saving grace.
— Souvik Nath (@I_SouvikNath) February 20, 2023
https://twitter.com/Venkysam14/status/1627706458463965186
Hope not to bottle another big match
— Gully Cricketer (@KricketerGully) February 20, 2023
Feel for Ireland they really played well even after loosing 2 wickets early
— Rohan Yadav (@Yadavrohan04) February 20, 2023
Deepti sharma aaj fir tried her best to lose game .. but last 15 balls from gaykward , pandey and pooja saved this match
— Sir BoiesX (@BoiesX45) February 20, 2023
And will lose to Aus 😏😉
— Kaustubh (@kaustubh_4579) February 20, 2023
Why this tailender came in opening. Blind slogging on every ball. Total 15 catches in 30 balls. Ireland is also doing challenge of not taking any catch. Comedy going on 😭🤣#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/x7KcL7zqZP
— R.K.𝕏 (@The_kafir_boy_2) February 20, 2023
