Women’s World Cup 2017: Mithali Raj, Rajeshwari Gayakwad Shine as India Beat New Zealand to Reach Semis

India will now face Australia in the second semifinal at derby on Thursday, July 20

Indian eves dished out an impressive performance to make it to the semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017. Chasing 266, New Zealand were bundled out for just 79 runs thus handing India an 186-run win and a place in the last four.

In a must-win encounter, India after being put to bat posted competitive 265 on board all thanks to skipper Mithali Raj’s 109-run knock and Veda Krishnamurthy’s (70 off 45 balls) breezy half-century apart from Harmanpreet Kaur’s slow-paced half-century. Also Check- India vs New Zealand Women’s World Cup 2017- As it Happened

After losing openers Punam Raut (4) and Smriti Mandhana (13), Mithali shared an excellent partnership of 132 runs with Harmanpreet with the latter scoring 60 off 90 balls. Towards the end, skipper and Veda upped the ante and stitched a partnership of 108 runs off just 78 balls.

Indian bowlers then complicated bowlers as White Ferns lost both the openers inside first three overs. Shikha Pandey dented New Zealand up front when she had Suzie Bates (1) caught in the slip. In next over, Jhulan Goswami caught and bowled Rachel Priest (5) to help India get off to a perfect start.

There was no respite for New Zealand batters as India kept Chipping way with the wickets. Left-arm slow bowler Rajeshwari Gayakwad, playing her first match of the World Cup, was wrecker-in-chief as she scalped a five-wicket haul to dismantle White Ferns to their lowest total in World Cup.

The 26-year-old finished with 5/15 in her 7.3 overs while Deepti Sharma picked two wickets. Mithali Raj, who was adjudged as the Player of the Match, has now won five such awards in Women’s World Cup, the joint second most by any player

India will now take on Australia in the second semi-final at the same venue (Derby) on Thursday (July 20) while hosts England face South Africa in the first semis at Bristol on Tuesday (July 18).

Brief Score: India Women 265 for 7 (Raj 109, Krishnamurthy 70, Kaur 60, Kasperek 3-45) beat New Zealand Women 79/10 (Satterthwaite 26, Gayakwad 5-15, Deepti 2-26) by 186 runs.