ICC Women's World Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur's (57 runs in 47 balls) quick-fire fifty against Australia Women at the WC ensures that India finished the innings on a high. India Women scored 277/7 in 50 overs and have put up a serious challenge against Australia Women.
Kaur, along with Pooja Vastrakar (34 runs in 27 balls) put 64 runs for the seventh wicket in just eight overs. This is Harmanpreet Kaur's third fifty in the tournament and the first at Eden Park in Auckland.
The flourish at the end by the two batters meant that the initial hard work done by Mithali Raj and Yastika Bhatia did not go to waste. The resilience came late as the middle overs were dominated by the Aussie bowlers.
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Darcie Brown was exceptional with the ball for Australia as she picked up three wickets up-front. Alana King too, picked up a couple of wickets but she went for 52 runs.
A confident Yastika Bhatia during the mid-innings break said that INDW vs AUSW might be a close contest but "the score (278) is defendable." She along with Mithali Raj took India out of trouble as the initial score was 28/2 after six overs. Bhatia got out after scoring 59 runs, against the run of play, trying to score quick runs.
With Australia needing 278 runs in 50 overs, India is in with a serious chance to upset the six-time champions Australia women.
India Women will have to be mindful of the pro-batter conditions at Eden Park with grass on the pitch and the humidity also on the higher side.