Women's T20 World Cup: India advanced to the semifinals of the Women's T20 World Cup after defeating Ireland by five runs (DLS).
Rain halted play with India leading Ireland on the DLS method.
Smriti Mandhana's 87-run knock helped India to 155/6 against Ireland in the Group B match of the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 at St George's Park.
Mandhana was at her best in the middle overs, creaming her drives and clearing the fence three times. After winning the toss, India chose to bat first and got off to a good start thanks to Smriti Mandhana's crisp strokes.
The openers put on a half-century stand before Shafali Verma was out for 24 in the 10th over of the game when Amy Hunter took a good, low catch in the deep off the delivery of Laura Delany.
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Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Mandhana worked together to smash Ireland bowlers around the ground. Harmanpreet completed 3000 runs in T20Is, becoming the fourth women's cricketer to do so in this format. She formed a solid partnership with Mandhana, who completed her half-century with a six over mid-wicket.
Mandhana completed her fifty in 40 balls thanks to an excellent six from Cara Murray's delivery. In the 15th over of the innings, Harmanpreet and Mandhana took their team's total past 100 runs.
Laura Delany followed with a stunning spell that dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur for 13 and Richa Ghosh for a duck.
Mandhana held the fort for India until she was bowled by Orla Prendergast in the 19th over of the game. Mandhana returned to the pavilion after scoring 87 of 56 deliveries. India then lost Deepti Sharma's wicket.
India finished with a total of 155/6 in 20 overs, with Jemimah Rodrigues hitting two boundaries in the final over.
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