India prevail in last-ball thriller to qualify for World Cup semis, Shafali Verma stars again

3⃣ wins in a row for #TeamIndia as we qualify for the #T20WorldCup semi-final! #INDvNZ

Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/PzUxm5OQ1F pic.twitter.com/71XwZ2AHYk

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 27, 2020

First Innings: India had posted 133/8 in their 20 overs batting first. Shafali Verma’s attacking 46 was the big story in the first innings. India looked set for a score around the 150-mark when she was batting but New Zealand managed to come back into the match with some quick wickets. Man of the Match Verma laid down the gauntlet for India even as wickets fell around her.

Tanya Bhatia was promoted up the order and she played a 23-run knock alongside Verma to give India a good start. Wickets fell regularly after this partnership and it was up to Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav to give India a good finish.

No player has ever scored more runs at a higher strike rate at a single Women’s #T20WorldCup than Shafali Verma in 2020 (114 runs at 172.72)

Superstar 🤩#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/l9SWDWUP5c

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 27, 2020

Second Innings: New Zealand got off to an attacking start but lost their top order early on, putting them into pressure after the first 5 overs. Maddy Green and Katey Martin built a partnership in the middle over with the required run rate steadily climbing.

India had the upper hand till the last few overs of the chase, till Amelia Kerr’s 19-ball 34 brought life into the chase. Poonam Yadav – the tournament’s highest wicket taker – was plundered off 18 runs off the penultimate over of the day to force a thrilling final over. Shikha Pandey held her nerves – even as a few boundaries were hit off her – to bowl a great last ball and New Zealand fell short by 4 runs.

India have become the first team from Group A to qualify for the semifinals with three wins from three matches.

Harmanpreet Kaur: “We got a good start in the first 10 overs and we didn’t carry the momentum. We did bowl well in patches and some times we were not up to the mark and have to focus on those areas. She is giving us good starts and I hope she continues doing that as quick runs at the top is really important to us.”

Sophie Devine: “We thought we did a fantastic job, with how Shafali came out at the top, to restrict them to 133 on a reasonably good wicket. I think the way the team nearly closed out the game today was fantastic. Green and Martin spent time in the middle and then Kerr did a brilliant job of getting us that close. That’s all you can ask for.”