India reach World Cup final as Australia fall just short in semi
Cricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India celebrate winning their semi final against Australia Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
DERBY, England (Reuters) - India are through to take on England in the Women's World Cup final after defending champions Australia fell 36 runs short of their victory target in a dramatic semi-final at Derby on Thursday.
Harmanpreet Kaur's remarkable knock of 171 not out off 115 balls helped India to a huge total of 281-4, and Australia were always struggling after slumping to 21-3 in their reply.
Alex Blackwell's valiant knock of 90 kept alive hopes of an unlikely comeback, building on good work from Elyse Villani (75) and Ellyse Perry (38), but six players being dismissed for single figures in their total of 245 all out proved Australia's undoing.
Cricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Alyssa Healy walks after being dismissed by India's Jhulan Goswami Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
India won the toss and chose to bat, and with early rain having reduced the game to 42 overs each, made a faltering start. Kaur and captain Mithali Raj (36) took control with a stand of 66 for the third wicket, and then Kaur teamed up with Deepti Sharma (25) for the ultimately decisive partnership of 137 for the fourth wicket.
In reply, Australia were 4-1 when Beth Mooney was bowled out for 1 by Shikha Pandey, which became 9-2 when captain Meg Lanning was also bowled out for a duck by Jhulan Goswami.
Villani and Perry's fourth wicket stand of 105 gave Australia hope, and at the tail, Blackwell battled bravely, but victory proved beyond them. The only blight on a thrilling day for India fans was Kaur limping towards the end of her mammoth batting effort, raising questions over her fitness for Sunday's final at Lord's.
Cricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Ashleigh Gardner (L) celebrates taking the wicket of India's Poonam Raut caught by Australia's Beth Mooney Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
(Reporting by Julian Shea; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Ellyse Perry appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of India's Poonam Raut Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Elyse Villani takes a catch to dismiss India's Smriti Mandhana Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Ashleigh Gardner (L) celebrates taking the wicket of India's Poonam Raut caught by Australia's Beth Mooney Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Ellyse Perry in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India's Jhulan Goswami celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Alyssa Healy Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Ellyse Perry directs Alex Blackwell and Meg Lanning Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India's Harmanpreet Kaur in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Elyse Villani in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's India's Harmanpreet Kaur dives to complete a century Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India's Deepti Sharma celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Blackwell to win the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India's Shikha Pandey celebrates the wicket of Australia's Beth Mooney Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India's Harmanpreet Kaur dives to reach her century Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India fans Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 India's Mithali Raj loses her wicket to the bowling of Australia's Kristen Beams Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Ashleigh Gardner celebrates the wicket of India's Poonam Raut with teammates Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffCricket - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 Australia's Megan Schutt in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffSoccer Football - Australia vs India - Women's Cricket World Cup Semi Final - Derby, Britain - July 20, 2017 The teams line up before the start of the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
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