ICC Women's World T20, Highlights, India vs Ireland, Full cricket Score: India beat Ireland by 52 runs to book place in semis

This is the second time that India Women’s have won three consecutive matches in a single edition of World T20. They also did it in 2014.

India are now through to the semis with three consecutive victories.

Mithali Raj, who top-scored for India with her second-consecutive half-century, is the ‘Player of the Match’! 

Mithali: (On her knee injury) I’m sure it will get better, and I will get ready for the next game. I think today the wicket was quite challenging because it was quite soft. That partnership with Smriti was quite crucial. Hopefully we get a better wicket in the next game. (On Mandhana’s lean patch) When somebody is going through a lean patch, it’s important to keep them optimistic. She’s getting better and better with each game. (On Indian team’s progess) This team definitely has improved from what we were in the last edition of the World Cup. The way we have started off has been incredible. (On her approach towards batting) You’re prepared for two-three shots for one delivery, and you try and innovate in this format. It’s something I’ve worked on.

After 20 overs,Ireland Women 93/8 ( Mary Waldron (W) 2 , Celeste Raack 1)

Poonam Yadav bowls out the final over, giving away just two runs off it, as India pull off a massive 52-run win to join Australia in sealing a semi-final berth for themselves in the ongoing tournament. India’s next clash against Australia is now reduced to a clash that decides the Group B topper, which could then be crucial in deciding their opponents in the last four stage.

After 19 overs,Ireland Women 91/8 ( Mary Waldron (W) 1 , )

Radha bowls out the penultimate over of the innings, conceding five runs with three Irish wickets falling in the over, two of which are added to her tally as she signs off with figures of 3/25 from four overs.

Ireland need 55 off 6.

OUT! Well Bhatia gets another stumping for herself after all, as Maritz misses the ball after stepping out of her crease to be dismissed for a golden duck! IRE 91/8

Maritz st Bhatia b Radha 0(1)

OUT! The wickets are just tumbling away in the last couple of overs, as Richardson now has to walk back to the dug out, having been sent back after running halfway down the pitch from the striker’s end! IRE 91/7

Richardson run out (Hemalatha/Bhatia) 4(4)

BOWLED! The ball brushes past Garth’s off stump after the batter steps out of the crease and misses; keeper Bhatia further hits the stumps with the batter well outside the crease, and it was initially adjudged a stumping. The umpires however, check the replays, and it’s adjudged ‘bowled’ IRE 90/6

Garth b Radha 3(5)

After 18 overs,Ireland Women 86/5 ( Kim Garth 2 , Eimear Richardson 1)

Single collected off each of the first two deliveries, before Joyce holes out to Poonam at short fine to virtually put paid to Ireland’s hopes in this game. Harmanpreet signs off with superb figures of 1/10 from four overs. 

Ireland need 60 off 12.

OUT! Joyce attempts to paddle a full delivery outside off towards fine-leg, but fails to clear the circle, with Poonam taking a simple catch at short fine. IRE 84/5

Joyce c Poonam b Kaur  33(38)

After 17 overs,Ireland Women 82/4 ( Isobel Joyce 32 , Kim Garth 0)

Deepti returns to the attack in the 17th over, and gets hit for boundaries off the first two deliveries by Joyce, who moves to the 30s. Lbw appeal against Kavanagh, with Harmanpreet going for the review after its turned down. They get three reds in the DRS, which results in the umpire’s decision getting overturned. Nine runs and a wicket off the over. 

Ireland need 64 off 18.

OUT! Great review by the Indians, as they get three reds after an unsuccessful lbw appeal against Shauna Kavanagh; the batter had hopped a little while looking to guide the ball towards the leg side, with the ball hitting her back thigh, which might have influenced the umpire’s original decision. IRE 82/4

Kavanagh lbw Deepti 2(6)

After 16 overs,Ireland Women 73/3 ( Isobel Joyce 23 , Shauna Kavanagh 2)

Harmanpreet continues to bowl her tight lines and mix up her pace, conceding just two off the over. 

Ireland need 73 off 24.

After 15 overs,Ireland Women 71/3 ( Isobel Joyce 22 , Shauna Kavanagh 1)

Joyce and Delaney stick to collecting singles with the boundaries not coming their way, before the latter gets stumped off the penultimate delivery to perish for 9. Kavanagh is the new batswoman at the crease, and gets off the mark with a double off the first ball. 

Ireland need 75 off 30.

OUT! Delaney steps out of her crease to a delivery pitched between middle and leg, but misses the ball completely thanks to the extra turn! IRE 70/3

Delaney st Bhatia b Radha 9(17)

After 14 overs,Ireland Women 66/2 ( Isobel Joyce 20 , Laura Delany (C) 7)

Tight over from Poonam Yadav, with the two Irish batters able to collect three singles between them, with a wide coming their way as a bonus. Joyce, meanwhile, looks a little impatient right now with the big hits not coming her way.

After 13 overs,Ireland Women 62/2 ( Isobel Joyce 19 , Laura Delany (C) 5)

Rodrigues is brought into the attack in the 13th over, and she starts off with a wide down the leg side. Six off the over. Ireland’s required run-rate stands at 12 right now, with the side desperately needing a few boundaries to keep it under check.

After 12 overs,Ireland Women 56/2 ( Isobel Joyce 16 , Laura Delany (C) 3)

Harmanpreet continues to dry the runs up from one end, conceding just three singles off her second over.

After 11 overs,Ireland Women 53/2 ( Isobel Joyce 15 , Laura Delany (C) 1)

Hemalatha’s off to an expensive start in her spell, getting hit for a boundary by Joyce twice in the over, conceding 10 off it.

After 10 overs,Ireland Women 43/2 ( Isobel Joyce 6 , Laura Delany (C) 0)

Superb over from skipper Harmanpreet, conceding just one off it, as Ireland reach 43/2 at the halfway stage of the innings, with the required run-rate now going over 10.

After 9 overs,Ireland Women 42/2 ( Isobel Joyce 5 , Laura Delany (C) 0)

Poonam produces a googly off the first ball, with Joyce bringing her bat down in the last second to prevent it from hitting her stumps. Singles off the next three deliveries, before Shillington gets stumped off the penultimate delivery to depart for a run-a-ball 23. Skipper Delaney walks out to the crease, and faces a wrong ‘un first ball. Three runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Extra turn in Poonam’s delivery, and Shillington misses the ball completely after advancing down the pitch! Bhatia knocks the bails off in a flash, as Ireland lose their second opener! IRE 42/2

Shillington st Bhatia b Poonam 23(23)

After 8 overs,Ireland Women 39/1 ( Clare Shillington 22 , Isobel Joyce 3)

Appeal for stumping against Shillington in the fifth delivery after a swing and a miss. The batter however got her backfoot back inside on time, and is ruled safe by the third umpire. Good over from Deepti, with four coming off it.

After 7 overs,Ireland Women 35/1 ( Clare Shillington 20 , Isobel Joyce 2)

Poonam Yadav’s brought into the attack in the seventh over. Shillington smacks the ball towards cow-corner off the third delivery to complete 1,000 T20I runs. Mithali suffers an injury while fielding at backward square-leg in the penultimate delivery, and has to walk off the field as a result. Five runs off the over.