India may have done it the hard way but they ultimately got the job done, surviving a few scares along the way to make it to the knockout stages on home soil.
Victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan got them going but three consecutive defeats, against South Africa, Australia and England, put the pressure on a team already dealing with the weight of expectation from the home crowds.
The response was emphatic, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal both scoring centuries as India racked up 340 for three against New Zealand, their highest-ever score at an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, to book their place in the semi-finals.
A no result against Bangladesh, which brought a tournament-ending injury for Rawal as well as the highest-ever attendance for a group stage fixture at any ICC women’s event (25,965), rounded off India’s group stage and they are now gearing up for the toughest test of all, with Australia lying in wait.
Key moment
A partnership, rather than an individual moment, but the 212-run stand between Mandhana and Rawal against New Zealand was just what India needed in a must-win game.
After a watchful start, which saw just 18 scored in the first six overs, both openers moved through the gears in style and ticked off several landmarks along the way.
Mandhana joined Tazmin Brits on five ODI centuries for the year, the first time that milestone has been hit in women’s cricket, while Rawal became the joint-quickest woman to 1000 ODI runs. The partnership was also India’s highest at any ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
It set the tone for a crucial victory and took any remaining pressure off the final group match.
Top performers
Mandhana and Rawal have been in fine form throughout and are the leading run-scorers in the competition with 365 and 308 respectively.
That makes Rawal’s injury-enforced absence for the knockout stages a particular blow, with Shafali Verma – who has not played an ODI for 12 months – drafted in as her replacement in the squad.
With the ball, Deepti Sharma sits joint-top of the wicket-taking charts with 15 scalps to her name – she has not failed to take a wicket in any match so far and will be key to India’s chances against the reigning champions.
History against semi-final opponent
India’s recent clashes with Australia have been run feasts and there is little to suggest this week’s latest instalment will be any different given the firepower on show.
The group stage meeting between the two nations saw Australia pull off a record run chase, Alyssa Healy blasting 142 as they chased down 330, while the third of a three-match series in September saw 781 runs scored, 412 of them by Australia as they prevailed by 43.
India have won just one of their last 11 ODIs against Australia but captain Harmanpreet Kaur will have fond memories of the last time they faced them in a World Cup semi-final in 2017.
Kaur struck a sparkling 171 not out from 115 balls, while Sharma chipped in with three for 59, as India won by 36 runs in Derby. The fans in Navi Mumbai will hope a repeat is on the cards.
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