Harmanpreet Kaur becomes first player to play 150 T20Is
India Women’s team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur created a world record by becoming the first player to feature in 150 matches in the T20I format. The all-rounder achieved the feat during India’s last match of group stage in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. India beat Ireland by five runs through the DLS method in a rain-marred match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Monday, February 20.
With 143 appearances, New Zealand batter Suzie Bates is the second women player behind India skipper in the list. India vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana is third with 115 games. Meanwhile, India men’s team captain Rohit Sharma stands ahead with 148 appearances since his debut for India in 2007.
Harmanpreet had equaled Rohit’s record in the T20 World Cup match against West Indies Women. She surpassed him after playing the match against England last week. The 33-year-old cricketer made her debut in T20Is in the 2009 edition of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 against England at the County Ground, Taunton.
Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. The India captain expressed her happiness reaching the milestone. “It means a lot, I got an emotional message from my teammates. Thanks to BCCI and ICC, we are able to play so many games,” Kaur said at the toss.
India reaches Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal
Talking about the match, Harmanpreet & Co. displayed an outstanding performance against the Laura Delany-led side. Mandhana played a fine knock as India posted a decent 155 runs. The 26-year-old cricketer smashed her career-best T20I score of 56-ball 87, including nine fours and three maximums.
Chasing 156 runs, Ireland Women were 54/2 from 8.2 overs. But the game was abandoned due to rain, with Gaby Lewis 32 still at the crease. Ireland was five runs behind the DLS par score of 59 and India were declared the winner in the rain-marred match. With three victories out of four matches, India has now qualified for the semi-finals along with England from the Group 2.
