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Harmanpreet Kaur scores 171* against Australia; sets Twitter ablaze

India were powered to 281 in 42 overs thanks to a 137-run stand between Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma.

Harmanpreet Kaur scored 171* © Getty Images
Harmanpreet Kaur scored 171* © Getty Images

Opting to bat, India posted a challenging 281-4 against Australia in the rain-truncated second semifinals of the ICC Women’s World Cup at County Ground. It was largely thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 115-ball 171 that anchored the Indian innings after the match was reduced to 42- overs-a-side due to rain delay. Harmanpreet blistered past almost every World Cup recording during her stay in the middle. She smoked as many as 20 fours and 7 sky-soaring sixes in the process to leave fans, former cricketers and contemporaries in awe. On her splendid show Twitter and social media went on fire and praised the 28-year old with open arms.

 

 

 

 

Coming in at No.4, Harmanpreet fired a 115-ball unbeaten 171 to bail out the team, once tottering at 35/2 after losing both the openers — Smriti Mandhana (6) and Punam Raut (14) inside the first 10 overs. Harmanpreet was involved in two crucial partnerships — 66 runs with skipper Mithali Raj (36 from 61 balls, 2*4) for the third wicket and then a 137-run fourth wicket stand with Deepti Sharma (25 from 35, 1*4) — to change the complexion of the game.

Such was the ferocity of her attack, that the Punjab right-hander got to her third One-day International (ODI) hundred in just 90 balls before launching most of the Aussie bowlers out of the park. Unable to stop her carnage, Australia captain Meg Lannings turned to her opening bowler Ashleigh Gardner, but it only resulted in Harmanpreet milking the pacer for 23 runs, which included two consecutive sixes and as many boundaries in an over.

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