While India Women secured their place in the Semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 by closely beating Ireland Women in the rain-interrupted game, the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur set up two WT20I histories. She is the first to play 150 Women’s T20I matches and also became the first Indian to score 3000 WT20I runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur: 1st to play 150 WT20Is
The 33-year-old Harmanpreet Kaur became the first player to appear in 150 T20I matches. It is not only a record in Women’s T20I but also a record in the entire senior T20 international cricket matches. In Men’s T20I cricket, Indian star Rohit Sharma has played most matches by appearing in 148 T20Is.
In the Women’s T20I, New Zealand cricketer Suzie Bates is in second position in the list of most appearances with 143 WT20Is.
Harmanpreet Kaur: 1st Indian to score 3000 WT20I runs
In that crucial Gqeberha WT20I against Ireland Women, India Women batted first and scored 155/6 in 20 overs. The opener Smriti Mandhana played a vital role in that innings as she scored her second consecutive half-century (87 off 56 balls; nine fours and three sixes). Meanwhile, the skipper Harmanpreet scored 13 runs in 20 balls.
Though Harmanpreet struggled with the bat in the game, the right-handed batter reached the 3000 WT20I runs milestone in 135 innings. She became the fourth overall but first Indian to score 3000 WT20I runs.
India won by 5 runs (DLS method)
In reply, Ireland Women scored 54/2 in 8.2 overs when the rain interrupted the game. As it wasn’t possible to carry on the match once again, the Irish team had the DLS target of 59/2 in 8.2 overs. So, the Indian team won by five runs (DLS method) to secure their place in the Semi-finals of this tournament.
The previous WT20WC runners-up India Women are ready to play their fifth WT20WC Semi-final.
