ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2017

ICC WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2017

Live cricket score - Australia vs India, ICC Women's World Cup 2017, Semifinal 2

Australia women made a fine start to the truncated semifinal fixture © Getty

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Take a bow, Harmanpreet Kaur!

ODI century #3 for Harmanpreet Kaur. Exceptional knock, filled with some pleasing strokes all around the ground. She's got to the landmark in 90 balls, whacking 12 fours and 2 sixes. There was a little endearing moment just before the landmark was achieved. Harman needed 2 for the century and called for the second run, but her batting partner Deepti Sharma hesitated and eventually had to put in a dive to make her ground.

After completing her run, the TV screens focussed on a livid Harman, who was clearly unhappy with Deepti's running, made her displeasure known. The 19-year-old was left a bit teary-eyed, even as replays showed that her dive was good enough to give Harman her century. Drinks were on the field for both the batters and Harman put an arm around Deepti's shoulders and said a few words, perhaps apologising for her outburst. Nice little moment there.

Kaur leads the way...

Harmanpreet Kaur is steering India's quest for a 200-plus total. She has gone from 52 off 66 balls to 92 off 86. India now have 175 for 3 in 34 overs.

Crucial five-over phase

India have managed 32 runs in five overs. Kaur has gone from 54 off 66 to 73 off 78 as the team move on to 152 for 3 in 32 overs. 10 overs to go and 200 is in sight - provided Kaur stays on.

Fifty for Harmanpreet Kaur - second in two games!

It's been a half-century laced with beautiful shots - straight down the ground, square of the wicket, through covers and more. But it well begun is only half done and she's only just got started. A big 100 will automatically push India to a competitive total but that won't be easy. India 120/3 in 28 overs. How much more can they get in 14 overs?

Massive hit - the turning point?

Beams concedes a free-hit - for a ball that slipped out of her hand and was adjudged no-ball as it sailed way above the batter and the keeper's head. The free-hit delivery gave Kaur the chance to get easy runs and she capitalised extremely well. She danced down the track and smacked the ball cleanly over deep mid-wicket fence. "The turning point of the game," says Ramki, seated to my right. Can it be?

Kristen Beams strikes...

Mithali Raj goes! Excellent change of pace from the leggie. She fires one slightly short, and beats the Indian captain's attempt to push the ball off the backfoot. She goes for a 61-ball 36. India 101 for 3 in 25 overs. Deepti Sharma is the new batter in.

Top of the heap...

Nikita calls for some aggressive batting from India - "India need to adopt a more aggressive approach in their batting. They've been over cautious in most of the games this tournament and it makes it boring to watch. You see teams like Australia, England, New Zealand and refreshingly South Africa with a more positive approach. If I can compare, though a lot of sides struggle, it's like Indian women is in the same phase Pakistan's men's ODI team is. While the sides are getting better with the art of batsmanship, India are sticking to the traditional approach. If they can make batting more exciting, it'll attract a lot more audience in India," she says.

No moving on still...

Raj and Kaur have ensured no more wickets would fall, but the scoring rate hasn't improved greatly. India have 70 runs on the board in 20 overs. Considering the Australia's batting strength, India need to score in excess of 200, which means a scoring rate of close to 6 (or even more) from hereon till the end of the innings. Tall ask, surely.

"Harmanpreet Kaur needs to score a century today, " says my colleague Kaushik R from the adjacent desk. Many would concur - need of the hour for India indeed. She's heard the pleas it would seem as she unleashes aesthetically-pleasing straight drive for four off Megan Schutt.

Punam Raut holes out

India are in a fix here. Mithali Raj and Punam Raut were looking to pull India out of the hole after an early wicket, but the introduction of spin came as an opportunity to shift gears for the latter. Raut was lucky not to lob the first ball back to bowler Ashleigh Gardner but didn't carry forward her luck when she tried to slog sweep. Her big hit goes to Beth Mooney at deep mid-wicket.

Getting Gloomy

It's only the seventh over, but the lights have come on. Let's hope rain doesn't follow.

WICKET - Smriti Mandhana falls early

Early blow for India! Smriti Mandhana has been sent packing by Megan Schutt in the first over. Mandhana is offered width but she's slightly undecided on which shot to go for. It appeared like she was looking to pull but had to adjust last moment and ended up playing a half-hearted hit towards the off-side. The resulting leading edge goes to Ellyse Vilani at cover.

TEAMS

INDIA - Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma(w), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav
AUSTRALIA - Beth Mooney, Nicole Bolton, Meg Lanning(c), Ellyse Perry, Elyse Villani, Alex Blackwell, Alyssa Healy(w), Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Kristen Beams

TOSS - India opt to bat

India unchanged, Lanning in for Rachael Haynes for Australia.

- Good news for Australia! Meg Lanning is back and leading the side in the big game.

- Powerplays will be 9 overs and 4 overs. Two bowlers can bowl 9 overs each, three can bowl 8 each.

- Latest update from Derby is that the toss will take place at 13:25 local time (5:55 pm IST) and if there's no further rain, play will begin at 13:45 local time (6:15 pm IST) in a 42-overs-a-side fixture.

In other news...

- Essex batsman Tom Westley has been drafted in for a Test debut - he will play in the third Test between England and South Africa.

- Kevin Pietersen is flirting with international return once again... and this time with South Africa.

Good news? That's the belief!

Sumeet Mate makes an interesting point - "Well all I can say say is if India had any chance of challenging the mighty Aussies, it had to be in Derby. Though I doubt with the rain around that the ball might not spin which could well end India's hopes."

- The next inspection will be held at 13:45 hrs local time (6:15 PM IST)

- Here's the latest. Look away if you had hopes of quick turnaround from the troublesome weather.

- The unflappable Indian captain seems to be armed even for a rainy day. What's your ideal buffer plan while waiting for rain to subside before a big game? Write in your suggestions!

- It is still raining in Derby unfortunately. The ground staff are doing their best but there are clear puddles on the outfield and we could be in for a long day.

SCENARIO

- The ground will reportedly need at least two more hours to be completely ready for play.

- The latest a 20-over game can begin is 16:38 local time (9:08 PM IST).

- There is a reserve day tomorrow for this game.

- If play happens today with a revised no. of overs (say, 30), and then rain comes in again, then the game will resume on the reserve day from the point it was stopped and will remain a 30-over game.

- If rain manages to make its presence felt on the reserve day too, Australia will go through owing to a better showing in the group stage.

Toss delayed

It's raining in Derby but there's a reserve day as well!

Build up:

After 29 matches in the ICC Women's World Cup 2017, it's now down to three teams with one of them already having qualified for the final. As to who will face England this weekend, it will be decided when six-time champions and current holders of the trophy - Australia - take on an Indian side that has blown hot and cold during the tournament.

While Australia have been clinical throughout the tournament, overcoming oppositions with minimum fuss to finish the league stage with a solitary loss, India have experienced moments of brilliance and mediocrity in equal measure. Whether Mithali Raj's team can show enough application and discipline against a well-oiled, professional unit headed by Meg Lanning, would determine if India feature in their second World Cup final or if Australia continue their love affair with summit clashes for the ninth time in 11 editions.

Although Australia might appear favourites going into this game, the fact that India are playing their fifth game at the County Ground in Derby - where they are yet to suffer a loss - would even things out. The slow turners that have been on offer at the home of Derbyshire CCC, have been much to India's liking as they have registered four out of their five league stage wins at this venue. That 65% of the 49 wickets picked up by the Indian bowlers and eight of the 12 fifty-plus scores by their batters have come at this venue proves familiarity breeds success for the sub-continent team.