Women’s T20 WC: Harmanpreet’s fifty in vain as Australia beat India to reach semis
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten 54* went in vain as Australia beat India by nine runs in Group A match to reach Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
After Supernovas fell short by 16 runs against Trailblazers in the final of Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said that their inability to build partnership was the main reason for the defeat.
“It wasn’t that tough a total to chase but we just didn’t get partnerships. We needed two good partnerships, but we didn’t,” she rued.
The Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers on Mondays defeated Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas in the final of the Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 by 16 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Ground to clinch their maiden title.
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Asked to bat first, Mandhana plaed a captain’s innings of 68 runs (49 balls, 5x4s, 3x6s). Deandra Dottin’s 20 were also important as Trailblazers reached the fighting 118/8 wickets in 20 overs.
Defending the total, Radha Yadav was the chief architect of Trailblazers’ victory as she wreaked havoc and returned with the figures of 5/34. Barring Richa Ghosh (10), the other Supernovas batswomen failed to touch the double digit mark.
Harmanpreet indicated that her injury, sustained while fielding first, impacted her batting.
“It was really tough for me; while fielding only I got hurt but you have got to be there for the team. I tried my best but couldn’t win it for the team,” she said.
On Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown, Harmanpreet said: “Sitting at home was really difficult, but we have to respect the things that are going on and be safe.”
Supernovas’ left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who was adjudged Player of the Series and took five wickets in the final, revealed that she was regularly practising during the lockdown.
“It feels great to pick a fifer, but isn’t nice to not be on the winning side. It was a spinning track and the plan was to bowl the normal stock ball,” she said.
“I worked very hard on my bowling in the lockdown, and I think it shows. I was playing consistently even in the lockdown and I was in touch, so it didn’t feel like I was coming back after a long time.”
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