Women’s T20 World Cup, India vs Ireland Highlights: Smriti Mandhana shines as India beat Ireland by 5 runs (DLS) to qualify for semis | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana scored career-best 87 as India qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Monday after registering a five-run victory, via DLS method, over Ireland in a run-truncated match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
Chasing a competitive 157-run target, Ireland, who were already out of semi-final contention, were 54 for 2 in 8.2 overs when rain stopped the proceedings. The match was called-off after a wait of an hour or so, paving way for India to progress further in the tournament.
As it happened: India vs Ireland
With the victory, India finished the group stage with six points from four games. Currently, they are in second position in Group B, behind England (six points from three games), who have a better net run rate at this moment. England will play Pakistan on Tuesday in their final group game, which will decide the final positioning in the group. India will play Australia in the semi-final if they finish second in the group standings.

After opting to bat first, Mandhana (87 off 56 balls) and Shafali Verma (24 off 29) gave India a solid start, adding 62 runs for the opening wicket in 9.3 overs. Mandhana, who smashed three sixes and nine fours, then added another 52 runs for the second wicket with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (13 off 20) to set India a platform for a big total.
But wickets in quick succession in the final five overs halted the momentum set by Mandhana as they posted 155 for 6 in their 20 overs.

Ireland got off to a disastrous start, losing two wickets in the very first over bowled by in-form pacer Renuka Thakur Singh. Opener Amy Hunter was run out off the first ball, while going for a second run. Four balls later, Renuka clean bowled Orla Prendergast to reduce Ireland to1 for 2 in 0.5 overs.
Gaby Lewis (32 not out off 25) and skipper Laura Delany (17* off 20) added a valuable fifty-run stand to resurrect the Ireland run chase, before the rain came to play spoilsport.