Hurricane Harmanpreet from Moga flattens Aussies

CHANDIGARH: It was 34 years back when Kapil Dev smashed an unbeaten 175 an innings that defined the path for Indian men's cricket.

Harmanpreet Kaur, on Thursday , blasted her way to an unbeaten 171 (off 115b; 20x4, 7x6) against Australia in the second semi-final of the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup. Kaur's blitzkrieg propelled India to a convincing 36-run victory and paved way to the final, where they'll take on England.

Batting first, India put on 2814 in 42 overs in a rain-truncated match at Derby. In reply, Australian team folded up for 245 in 40.1overs. Such was the force of Harmanpreet's knock that her idol Virender Sehwag termed it as "an innings of a lifetime"; and, indeed the inning can revolutionize Indian women's cricket in the future.

This was not the first time Harmanpreet had put the Aussies to sword. In fact, she has been doing so right from her first series against the women from Down Under (in 2009). It was the last over of the final one-day international between India and Australia and Harmanpreet had sent the ball screaming into the stands for a 91-metre six at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With her brilliance, Harmanpreet had helped India win the match.

She was just 19 at that time and the Aussie officials were in total disbelief. They had asked Harmanpreet to undergo a dope test. The question was `how a girl can hit such a long six?' She came out clean from that.

Growing up in Moga, Harmanpreet had no option but to play with the boys in her neighbourhood as not many girls took up to sports. This was a blessing in dis guise since she became a lot tougher than what she was earlier. And her love for "butter chicken" cooked in Punjabi style also helped in building those strong forearms required to hit sixes.

Her father Harmandar Bhullar is a lawyer's clerk in the district court. He feels that her daughter is better than most boys.


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