Team India held their nerves to clinch a thriller against New Zealand to progress through to the semifinals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020. Setting up a target of 134 runs, Harmanpreet Kaur & Co restricted the Kiwis for 129 runs to secure a four-run win at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
Amelia Kerr looked really disappointed and almost dragged herself off the field after she failed to take her side over the rope in a must-win game. Rachel Priest provided a brisk start before she perished but the experienced duo of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine disappointed as they could not get going today.
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Maddy Green and Katey Martin steadied the innings with a 43-run stand but it was Kerr’s gem that brought the chase to life. Needing 34 off the last two, Kerr took the tournament’s highest wicket-taker – Poonam Yadav – apart and left 16 for the final over. There were a couple of boundaries in the 20th over as well but Shikha Pandey kept her calm and nailed the yorker when it was needed.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, it was once again the 16-year-old Shafali Verma, who led the charge with the bat for India. The women in blues were struggling at one point at 17 for one, but Verma and Taniya Bhatiya combined well to bail India out. Although New Zealand ran down India’s middle-order but Verma 34-ball 46 runs innings proved enough to make India the first team to enter the semifinals of the mega event.
The social media was on fire as soon as Sikha Pandey delivered a gem of an over to defend the total. They praised the entire team led by Harmanpreet Kaur for producing consistent performances in the tournament.
Twitter Reactions
India through to the Semis. Batted first on all three occasions and bowlers have successfully defended every time. Spin to Win. Now, only one of Aus and NZ can reach the final four. #IndvNZ #WT20WC
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 27, 2020
Shikha Pandey Held Her Nerves In The Last Over & #TeamIndia W Cruises To Victory Once Again Defending 133 Against NZ W!
Well Done Girls & Congratulations
But Please Score Close To 150 In The Next Games… This Gets Too Edgy In The End #INDvNZ #NZvIND W
— Dr Khushboo Kadri (@khushikadri) February 27, 2020
To be fair that was an exciting finish in the end but the batting so far in this Womens #T20WorldCup has been really poor teams struggling to score 130 in their 20 overs hardly any power hitters in the Women’s game these days it doesn’t make for great viewing ♂️ #INDvNZ
— Lee Hanlon (@LeeHanlon9) February 27, 2020
Fantastic Win by #TeamIndia #BCCIWomen beat #NewZealand in #T20WorldCup #India #INDvNZ #INDWvNZW#NZvIND #INDWvsNZW #BCCI #ICC #WT20WC #ShafaliVerma #Melbourne
— SunMoon Sports (@SunMoonSports) February 27, 2020
Hattrick win and thru to the semis!!! What a match! Well played #TeamIndia . #INDvNZ #T20WorldCup #WomenInBlue
— Alagappan (@algaps) February 27, 2020
3 out of 3, women in blue win by 4 runs. Congratulations @BCCIWomen. Indian women have the ability to win the world cup but have to improve their batting especially in death overs. pic.twitter.com/CUKPyp3O4w #INDvNZ #T20WorldCup
— Rahul M Manthattil (@rahulmanthattil) February 27, 2020
What a story #ShafaliVerma is, thanks her father for constant support at the post-match presentation. #INDvNZ #TeamIndia #T20WorldCup
— vishesh (@vroy38) February 27, 2020
what a thriller match!!
well played team india #INDvNZ #TeamIndia @ImHarmanpreet— paras wadhwa (@paraswadhwa5282) February 27, 2020
Congratulations #TeamIndia on winning a nail biter against New Zealand by 3 runs and qualifying for the Semi Finals of ICC #T20WorldCup 2020. Praiseworthy fight by beautiful and emotional Amelia Kerr. #INDvNZ #INDWvNZW pic.twitter.com/5zP6h6WWfb
— Gyan Biswal (social activist/journalist) (@GyanBiswal) February 27, 2020
The spinners have been sensational and Shafali Varma is giving India just the starts the team needs. If the tracks continue to be like this, India have a very good chance of going the distance. #T20WorldCup
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 27, 2020
Well bowled Shikha Pandey! superb effort from NZ though.
India on a proper roll.
— Nikhil (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 27, 2020
India have become the first team to qualify for the semifinal. This will be India’s fourth semifinal appearance in Women’s World T20.#INDWvNZW
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 27, 2020