WWC: Harmanpreet Kaur's 171* helps India knock-out defending champions Australia and reach final
India will take on host England in the final on Sunday at Lord's.
India defeated Australia by 36 runs to storm into the final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 on the back of a stellar knock by Harmanpreet Kaur on Thursday.
Mithali Raj won the toss at the County Ground in Derby and had little hesitation in choosing to bat first. Her decision seemed to be incorrect at the outset after India lost their openers cheaply, but the skipper was joined by Kaur to resurrect the innings. The duo put on 66 runs for the third wicket.
India found themselves in a deep hole once again when Raj was sent packing for 36. But from there on, the sizeable crowd gathered on the ground, and the millions watching on television, were treated to an absolute master-class on power-hitting by young Kaur.
The right-hander went on to score a jaw-dropping 171 not-out as India put up a mammoth 281. Kaur's stunning assault was studded with 20 fours and seven sixes. There is little doubt in the fact that this innings by Harmanpreet Kaur will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, in both and women's and men's cricket.
Such a massive chase, that too in the semi-final of a World Cup, was going to require a Herculean effort from the defending champions. The Australians, however, were pegged back with early wickets by some fine bowling from India's new-ball bowlers.
Ellyse Perry and Elyse Villani then put on a century stand to give their side hope, but their departure in quick succession made many believe that the Aussie challenge was all but over. That was not the case though, as Alex Blackwell gave the Indians a mighty scare right at the end with a dazzling 90 off 56 balls. The last wicket partnership, which put on a frightening 76 runs, was finally broken by off-spinner Deepti Sharma as she cleaned-up Blackwell.
The Women in Blue will now take on host England in the final on Sunday. The contest, the first edition of which was won by India in their opening match of the tournament, will be played at the Home of Cricket - Lord's.
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This has been an incredible performance by India.
But the star of the day has been Harmanpreet Kaur.
Her 171* will be spoken about for years to come.
OUT!
That's it, India have won!
Blackwell is clean-bowled by Deepti Sharma for 90.
Top over from Poonam Yadav. Just the seven runs from it.
Australia need 37 runs from 12 balls with 1 wicket in hand.
11 runs of the 39th over.
Australia need 44 from 18 balls with 1 wicket in hand.
Blackwell is turning it on!
Back-to-back sixes in the 37th over.
She has blazed her way to 67 from 41.
Australia require 64 from 30 with 1 wicket remaining.
OUT!
Megan Schutt falls to Deepti Sharma. Fine catch in the deep by Goswami.
AUS -174/9 from 33 overs.
OUT!
It's all going India's way at the moment.
Alex Blackwell plays a solid straight-drive, but Jhulan Goswami gets her fingertip on the ball and Jess Jonassen gets run-out at the other end.
OUT!
Another one bites the dust for Australia
Gardner goes for 1 after hitting a short and wide ball from Poonam Yadav straight to Mithali Raj at catching-covers.
AUS - 154/7 from 30 overs.
OUT!
Alyssa Healy walks back for 5 after trying to go up and over the in-field.
Jhulan Goswami gets her second wicket.
Australia are staring down the barrel now.
AUS- 148/6 from 28.3 overs.
Alyssa Healy steps out and plays an attractive drive over covers for four.
Much-needed for the Aussies.
AUS - 147/5 from 28 overs.
OUT!
Ellyse Perry caught Sushma Verma bowled Shikha Pandey.
Good innings of 38 by the all-rounder, but it most-likely won't be enough for the Australians today.
AUS- 140/5 from 26.1 overs.
The boundaries have dried up for the Aussies now.
The spinners are doing a good job of keeping things tight in these middle overs for India.
AUS - 135/4 from 25 overs.
OUT!
The dangerous Villani sent packing for 75 off 58.
Tried to loft Gayakwad over mid-on, but only managed to find Mandhana who didn't make any mistake with the catch.
Just what India needed!
AUS- 126/3 from 23 overs.
Perry joins the act.
Steps out and lofts the ball over mid-wicket for a four.
The hundred partnership between Ellyse Perry and Elyse Villani comes up. It has taken them just 89 balls to get there.
AUS - 121/3 after 22 overs.
What looked like a cakewalk for the Indians at the halfway stage has now turned into a bit of a battle.
The entire credit for that goes to Villani's brutal knock, that too after her side were pushed deep into a corner.
Mithali Raj would, however, know only too well that her team are just a wicket away from taking control once again.
AUS - 114/3 from 21 overs.
Two boundaries for Villani off the 19th over as well.
Will India pay heavily for dropping her catch early on?
AUS are 103/3.
Elyse Villani is playing a fine counter-attacking innings here.
Gets a half-century from just 41 balls.
She's milking a boundary, if not two, almost every over.
Indian captain Mithali Raj will need to come up with a solution soon.
AUS - 92/3 from 18 overs.
AUS - 78/3 from 17 overs.
50 partnership up between Ellyse Perry and Elyse Villani.
Still a long way to go for the Aussies, but India would want to separate the duo soon.
AUS - 72/3 from 16 overs.
AUS - 66/3 from 14 overs.
Expensive over from Deepti Sharma.
Villani leading Australia's mini-fight back.
They are 60/3 from 13 overs.
Elyse Villani playing aggressively at the moment.
A fine cover-drive for four.
Lost opportunity for India!
Villani plays an up-ish drive against left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, but a fairly easy catch is dropped at mid-off.
AUS - 41/3 after 11 overs.
Another fine clip off the toe from Perry that races away to the boundary.
The all-rounder is such an asset to the Australian side.
AUS - 29/3 from 9 overs.
Elyse Villani steps out on the second ball she faces and hits it over Sharma for four.
AUS - 25/3 from 8 overs.
OUT!
Stunning reflex catch by Deepti Sharma off her own bowling.
Nicole Bolton walks back for 14.
Australia are in deep trouble.
AUS - 21/2 from 7 overs.
Elysse Perry off the mark with a boundary.
Stylish flick past mid-wicket.
OUT!
Peach of a delivery from Jhulan Goswami to knock down Meg Lanning's off stump.
The Australian skipper walks back for a duck.
India are well and truly on top in Derby at the moment.
AUS - 9/2 from 5 overs.
Beth Mooney dismissed by Shikhar Pandey for 1, Australia 5/1 in two overs.
Join us after a short break for Australia's reply.
Harmanpreet Kaur remains unbeaten on 164 off 111 balls,
19 fours and 7 sixes in her marathon innings.
This is the fifth-highest score in an ODI.
Veda plays a classy cover-drive this time for four.
And the last ball brings two runs more.
India finish on a massive 282 for 4 after 42 overs.
First ball blasted past point for a four by Kaur.
Massive over for India once again.
How much can they get off the final six balls.
They are 268 for 4.
SIX!
Left-arm spinner Jess bowls a juicy full-toss, Kaur gets on one knee and smashes it.
ANOTHER SIX!
On one knee again, this time the ball travels 77 metres.
150 for Harmanpreet Kaur!
IND - 245/4 after 39.2 overs
OUT!
Sharma tries to slog it on the leg side this time, gets clean-bowled instead.
Last match's star-batsman Veda Krishnamurthy walks out to the crease.
Flat six from Kaur!
Gets on one knee, slogs it over the square-leg boundary for a maximum.
Follows that up with a solid square-cut for four.
Looks like Kaur is in the middle of a dream sequence at the moment.
Whatever she touches, turns to gold.
Two boundaries in a row once again from Kaur.
This time Schutt is on the receiving end.
Kaur is peppering the covers area.
Nine from the over.
IND - 224/3 from 38 overs.
BACK-TO-BACK SIXES!
Kaur steps out and smashes it, the ball lands on the boundary rope.
Next ball, gets on one knee and deposits the ball into the crowd.
What stunning shot-making this is!
BACK-TO-BACK-FOURS!
Lifts it over covers for a four on the next ball.
Caresses it past covers for a boundary after that.
This is exhibition stuff from Kaur!
What a player this young woman is! She is not out on 126, her highest score.
​1-6-6-4-4-4-2 from the 37th over by Gardner.
India are 215 for 3.
Another blazing cover-drive for four by Kaur.
IND - 192/3 off 36 overs.
CENTURY!
A mix-up between Kaur and Sharma almost results in a run-out.
But Kaur dives home to get to a richly-deserved century.
What a world-class knock this has been.
Timed her assault to perfection.
SIX!
Huge strike by Kaur. Her second of the innings.
Steps out and whacks it over the mid-wicket boundary.
FOUR!
Advances again as left-arm spinner Jess fires it down the leg from over the wicket, Kaur flicks it square for a boundary.
The right-hander is unbeaten on 92.
IND 175/3 from 34 overs.
Brilliant cover-drive by Kaur for four. She's inching towards a memorable century.
India well and truly on the attack now.
IND - 160/3 from 33 overs.