Team India reaches final of CWG 2022, blocks England in the semi-final by 4 runs: The Indian Women’s Cricket team has defeated England in the semi-final of the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Edgbaston, Birmingham to enter the finals of the championship. Team India blocked England’s entry to the final by four runs in an epic clash, earlier today.
The Women in Blue set up a competitive total of 164 runs against England in 20 overs following a pulsating half-century from Smirti Mandhana and finishing touch from Jemimah Rodrigues. Despite Nat Sciver and Amy Jones’ gritty knocks, England fell four-run short as India entered the final of the tournament to contest for the gold medal.
Earlier, in the game, India won the flip of the coin and decided to bat first against the might England. Despite a faltering record in the high-stake game, prior to today’s occasion, India put up a tough fight and dominated the English women.
The fixture began with Smiriti Mandhana’s scintillating half-century (61 from 32) which was supplemented by Jemimah Rodrigues’ healthy knock of 44 runs in just 31 deliveries. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma also contributed with their individual 20s apiece as India mounted a total of 164 runs in 20 overs.
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Meanwhile, Indian bowling was overpowered by Sophia Dunkley and Danielle Wyatt who began scoring runs at a brisk pace initially. However, Deepti Sharma soon removed Sophia Dunkley to give India its first breakthrough in the third over. The Indian bowlers then picked the wickets of Danielle Wyatt and Alice Capsey was run out.
But, Nat Sciver and Amy Jones were up for a bigger challenge as they gave the Indian side a few hiccups. The two batters steadied the England innings and milked enough runs to keep their chances intact. However, every effort from the two aforementioned went in vain as they got run out in the matter of just 10 deliveries during 17-18 overs, giving India its best chance to seal the game then and there.
Following the two run-outs, India pounced upon the opportunity and pressurised the opposition and eventually restricted them to a score of 160 in the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. India won the contest by four runs and make a place for themselves in the final of the CWG 2022 cricket championship where they will face the winner of the second semi-final. The second semi-final will be played between Australia and New Zealand.
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