If the semi-finals between England–South Africa and between India–Australia are indications, the final between England and India at Lord’s today will be a thriller.
The Australia v. India semi produced exhilarating batting, especially by Harmanpreet Kaur for India and Alex Blackwell for Australia. Between the two they smashed 10 sixes.
Harmanpreet’s innings will be cherished for decades. It reminded me of spectacular batting displays by Adam Gilchrist, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh when she hit a hurricane 171 not out off 115 balls at Derby, England on Thursday.
It was sensational as she belted 20 fours and seven sixes, her unbeaten 171 coming off 115 balls; her last 103 off only 40 balls at an amazing strike rate of 257.50.
Wrote Ebony-Jewel Rainfor-Brent – the former England cricketer – after the match, “Harmanpreet’s innings was the best ever in a women’s one-day international.”
Jarrod Kimber’s headline was even more eye catching: “Australia eaten by the Harmanpreet monster”!
Rain delayed the semi-final by three hours and was reduced to 42 overs-a-side.
India started slowly as she lost two early wickets. Skipper Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet had to steady the ship against a steady Australian attack and the run rate of 3.5 per over seemed inadequate. But after the fall of Mithali, Harmanpreet started using her feet, dancing down the pitch as if it belonged to her.
She dominated the strike, adding 132 fluent runs with left-handed Deepti Sharma off only 82 balls.
There was drama when Harmanpreet was on 98. She wanted two runs to reach her hundred and Deepti hesitated taking the second run. Either player could have been run out but survived.
The centurion Harmanpreet was furious with Deepti for hesitating, throwing her helmet about in anger. Soon after she apologised to Deepti for her burst of temper.
But the burst of temper brought out the best in her as she hammered the Aussie attack with wild abandon as India reached 4 for 281 in 42 overs, a run-rate of 6.7.
Needing 282 to win, Australia started badly losing three early wickets. Then Ellyse Perry (38) and Elyse Villani (75 runs off 58 balls with 13 fours) put on 105 quick runs for the fourth wicket. But wickets started tumbling and Australia was a dismal 9 for 169.
(AAP Image/International Cricket Council)
But cometh the hour and cometh Alex Blackwell to form! She hit a spectacular 90 off 56 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. By adding 76 runs for the last wicket, she brought Australia close to a shock victory. India won by 36 runs to meet England in the final.
It is difficult to predict the winner as both teams have in form players.
In batting: Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor for England; skipper Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Punam Raut for India.
In bowling: slow left arm bowlers Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Ekta Bisht for India and Katherine Brunt for England.
In teenager Deepti Sharma India has a promising all-rounder.
India has the psychological advantage of beating England on 24th June in this World Cup on 24th June by 35 runs.
England has won the World Cup three times including the inaugural one in 1973 and subsequently in 1993 and 2009.
Australia has won it most times, six times in 1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005 and 2013.
New Zealand won it once in 2000.
India has yet to lift the Cup. Will 2017 be their year with the Harman hurricane blowing again?
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Though I was a neutral in the final; I must say I am a bit relieved to see England win. If India had won, the Star sports would have shown the highlights of the match about 1000 times over the next month or so.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you, DaniE, The team that held her nerves lifted the World Cup. Congrats, England.
Custard Cream
Guest
Great win by our ladies in a fantastic final!
DaniE
Roar Guru
Thanks Kersi for the great write-up. Not long to go! This game will be decided by who has the steadiest nerve. I think that may be England. Though I'm hoping for a fairytale Indian win, to invigorate the sports' perception in the continent. At any rate, hope it's a cracker of a match!
Republican
Guest
........well done India. I hope they can roll perfidious Albion..........
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Did you notice the amazing similarity in the opening day's match between England and India at Derby on 24 June and in the semi-final between Australia and India on the same venue on 20 July? India (3-281) beat England (246) by 35 runs on 24 June. India (4-281) beat Australia (245) by 36 runs this Thursday in the semi. What a coincidence!
Basil
Guest
I've got a feeling the Poms will win this handily, though would be happy if proven wrong.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you Jarijari, Anindya and David for your feedback. Will India win her first WWC? India has entered the final only once before, losing to Australia by 98 runs in South Africa in 2005.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Saw enough of Harmanpreet Kaur with the Sydney Thunder in the WBBL last year to suggest that she was a fantastic talent. Shame she had to do it against Australia. Let's hope India get their first Women's World Cup title.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Yes Kersi should be a cracker of a game! Harmanpreet Kaur's innings was one to SA out for decades. I would venture to say it's the best innings I have seen in an ODI (men or women) in the past decade. Chanceless. Varying between sublimeness and brutality with no warning. Other than Blackwell, Australia seemed to have been mentally defeated after that innings. And justifiably so. I hope she carries that form and confidence into that match and the poms suffer!
Jarijari
Guest
Certainly a great knock by Harmenpreet, Kersi. There wasn't much chance the Aussies could run down 281, though Blackwell gave it her best shot. Aaron Pereira, covering the series for cricket.com.au, reckoned Harmenpreet benefited from her stint with Brisbane Heat in the WBBL last season, scoring 296 runs at 59.2. There's been a suggestion on other sites that the women's game -- particularly the Southern Stars -- relies too much on spin, and that seam bowling needs more development. India and England both got through to the final more on the efforts of their spinners, even though the Poms have have a couple of good quicker bowlers in Shrubsole (6 wickets for the tournament) and Brunt (5). It will be interesting to see what sort of pitch they come up with at Lord's tonight. It's worth mentioning that the women's World Cup was first held in 1973, in England, a couple of years before the men competed. Australia have won six of the 10 World Cups, England three and New Zealand one. How will the final go? Well, India batted first against England on the first day of this tournament in Derby and their openers put on 144. They went on to score 3-281 before bowling the home side out for 246. India had a couple of substantial defeats after that, losing to South Africa and Australia during the round-robin, before a big win over New Zealand. Hope the rain holds off and I'll go for India in what could be a close one.