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Harmanpreet Kaur does a Dhoni as India beat South Africa in last ball thriller to clinch Women's World Cup Qualifier

In the absence of regular skipper Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur ended up scoring 41 off 41 balls.

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Harmanpreet Kaur (L) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad celebrate after India's triumph over South Africa in ICC Women's Qualifier final on Tuesday
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Many a times the world has witnessed Mahendra Singh Dhoni wielding his willow in the death overs to clinch improbable victories for India, but on Tuesday the nation found their new women star in Harmanpreet Kaur who held her nerve, backed her instincts and blasted eight runs off the last two balls to help Indian women's team defeat South Africa by one wicket in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier final in Colombo.

India and South Africa had already qualified for the Women's World Cup, which would be held later this year, but this game turned out to be the best of the tournament as neither sets of players gave each other an inch. 

Chasing a competitive total of 245, India looked to be cruising till the 43rd over when they required a run-a-ball to win the game with six wickets in hand, but then the Proteas fought back dismissing four batters in quick succession to turn the match on its head.

Kaur was left at one end fighting a lone battle. Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav gave her vital support to take the game to the last over but they still needed nine off the last six balls and on the very first delivery bowled by Marcia Letsoalo, Yadav got run out while coming back for a couple. Needing eight off the last five, Kaur failed to score in three consecutive deliveries but she danced down the track to smash the fifth ball over deep mid-wicket for a maximum and then lobbed a full toss to long on to scamper for a couple and take India over the line.

Just like an excited tennis player, Kaur threw her bat in the air while her teammates ran on to the field to spark crazy celebrations. In the absence of regular skipper Mithali Raj, Kaur ended up scoring 41 off 41 balls while contributions from Mona Meshram (59 off 82 balls), Deepti Sharma (71 off 89 balls) and Veda Krishnamurthy (31 off 27 balls) up the order, smoothened the chase.

Earlier, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3-51) and Shikha Pandey (2-41) did maximum damage as South Africa were bundled out for 224 in 49.4 overs. India thus finished the tournament as the only team to win all their matches and this would do them a world of good when they travel to England to play the World Cup.

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