Dubai: Who will be in the final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 23?
The four teams that have played brilliant cricket so far have reached the semi-final scheduled to be held on July 18 and 20.
England and Australia have reached the last four stage losing only one game in the tournament, whereas India and South Africa have lost two matches each.
Though a semi-final can be anybody’s game, all eyes will be on the India-Australia match on July 20. Australia, as defending champions, have been brilliant but India, with record-shattering victories, are equally high on confidence.
India’s captain Mithali Raj has led the team from the front and her form looks great and inspiring.
Not only has she clinched a place at the top as the highest run getter in women’s cricket but showed how consistent she can be with the bat.
Seven 50-plus scores by her is the most by any captain in a World Cup.
Her two centuries in this World Cup is the joint-highest by a captain along with Suzie Bates and Charlotte Edwards, who also have hit two hundreds each.
Her century in India’s 186-run win against New Zealand was her sixth ton in One Day Internationals and no other Indian player has got more than two centuries.
It is her inspiring performance that many feel might drive other players to produce their best in the semi-final.
Little known left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad took five for 15 and wrecked New Zealand. Many more bowlers and batters may rise to the challenge.
Australian captain Rachael Haynes has not been as motivating as Mithali through her performances but their all-rounder Ellyse Perry is in her best form. Making her One-day debut at the age of 16 in 2007, she became the youngest cricketer to represent Australia. In the August 2015 Ashes series, Perry, by topping the tables for both batting (264 runs) and bowling (16 wickets), bagged the Player-of-the-Series award and stamped her mark as the best all-rounder of the team. Australia’s opening pair of Beth Mooney and Nicole Bolton are also in great form. It was their 114-run partnership which resulted in South Africa’s defeat on Saturday.
England, except for their defeat to India at the start, look good. The way they trashed West Indies by 92 runs reveals their confidence. Their skipper Heather Knight is in form with a 67 against West Indies and 106 against Pakistan. All-rounder Natalie Sciver with knocks of 137 against Pakistan and 129 against New Zealand and spells of three for three against West Indies is the star to watch in the semi-final.
South African players will have to play at their best, like they did while defeating India, in order to stop England. The 115 runs win over India was very impressive. Their opener Lizelle Lee — with knocks when it matters — is dangerous. She hit 92 against India, 72 against England and 60 against Pakistan.
There was a time in women’s cricket when the winner could be predicted. Today, with a rise in standards, it can be anybody’s game in the semi-finals.
