Smriti Mandhana scores 124 as India thrash Hong Kong, China Women by 137 runs to reach T20 World Cup semi-finals

With 193 on the board, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Hong Kong, China Women, and their task was made all the more difficult by the disciplined bowling from the Indian seamers upfront before the spinners took over. Marina Lamplough was the only one able to show any real spark. After the impressive effort she put in during the campaign opener, she looked confident again tonight and tried to take the attack to the Indian bowlers.

The night belonged to Mandhana - Oh, yes, it certainly did, with the number of milestones she ticked off on her way to her career-best T20I score of 124. She went past Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women's T20Is and also moved to the top of the women's international century charts, going past Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt with her 18th international hundred. Mandhana nearly batted through the entire 20 overs, which helped their cause on a sluggish surface. For the rest of the batting, barring Shafali Verma, it was a struggle.

India flex their muscles - Two emphatic wins for the Women in Blue, and by doing so, they have become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. Hong Kong, China Women could not put up any sort of fight with the bat and, even with the ball, they lacked the consistency needed to challenge the might of the Indian batting unit.

W

Overs16.2

Score56 - 10

Sree Charani to Shanzeen Shahzad, OUT! STUMPED! Sharp work by Richa Ghosh and that's that for the game. India win by 137 runs and book their place in the semis. Flighted up, on off. Shanzeen Shahzad lunges and has a swing at it. The ball drops on her before spinning past the outside edge. Her back leg gets lifted as Richa Ghosh breaks the stumps in a flash. The third umpire is called into action. The replays confirm that Shahzad's back leg was in the air when the stumps were broken.

W

Overs15.6

Score56 - 9

Deepti Sharma to Shanzeen Shahzad, OUT! JOYLEEN KAUR IS RUN OUT! India are just one wicket away from sealing a spot in the semis. Shortish again from Sharma, turning into the batter. Shahzad flicks it to short fine leg. Kaur calls for a quick single. At first Shahzad hesitates, but then she commits to it. Smriti Mandhana gets to the ball, picks it up and fires it at the keeper's end, with Richa Ghosh dislodging the stumps. Joyleen Kaur has to dive, and the decision has gone upstairs. After watching several replays, the third umpire is convinced that Kaur is just a few inches away from reaching the crease before Ghosh breaks the stumps.

W

Overs15.4

Score55 - 8

Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, OUT! TAKEN! Third wicket for Deepti Sharma and with that, she becomes the leading wicket-taker in T20Is, going past Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong. Floated it up, fuller, at the stumps. Iqra Sahar plants her front foot to the leg side of the delivery and looks to swipe it away, but the ball takes the top edge before it loops behind the keeper. Richa Ghosh turns around and takes the catch safely to her right.

0

Overs15.2

Score55 - 7

Deepti Sharma to Iqra Sahar, Stumping chance missed! On a good length, on middle. Sahar gives the bowler a premeditated charge but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. She tries to get her bat in line with the bal but is beaten past the inside edge due to the turn.

W

Overs15.1

Score55 - 7

Deepti Sharma to Alison Siu, OUT! CASTLED! You miss, I hit, says Deepti Sharma. Looped up, full and on middle and leg. Siu gets down on a knee and has a slog across the line. The ball lands and spins back in to sneak past the inside edge before crashing into the leg stump. 173rd T20I wicket for Deepti and she is now level with Thipatcha Putthawong for most wickets in women's T20Is.

W

Overs14.4

Score54 - 6

Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, OUT! CAUGHT! That is a fine catch by Nandani Sharma. This is a short-length delivery from Charani, pitching it just outside off and turning away. Marina Lamplough presses back to flick it away, but the ball spins away to catch the leading edge before it loops towards cover. Nandani Sharma charges across to her left and dives to take the catch inches off the turf.

0

Overs14.3

Score54 - 5

Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Not out! Just a shade behind the fuller length, outside off. Marina yet again looks to heave it across the line, but Richa Ghosh gloves it and crashes the stumps, appealing for the stumping. However, the third umpire has been called into the action. The batter's back foot was out of the popping crease for a moment, but she managed to plonk it back.

0

Overs14.2

Score54 - 5

Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Short of a length, slanting in, around off and middle. Marina Lamplough gets down on one knee to sweep it away, but the ball hits the batter's hips, and then the ball deflects off to hit the helmet of Richa Ghosh. There's a slight appeal from the bowler, but the umpire remains unmoved.

0

Overs13.6

Score53 - 5

Nandani Sharma to Marina Lamplough, So nearly another wicket! Slower one by Sharma, on a good length. Lamplough tries the reverse but she is early into the shot. The ball pops up off the forearm and lobs over the head of the keeper before landing safely in front of short fine leg.

W

Overs13.3

Score52 - 5

Nandani Sharma to Maryam Bibi, OUT! CAUGHT! The change of pace does the trick for Nandani Sharma. She bowls the back-of-the-hand slower one, fuller in length, just outside off. Maryam Bibi falls into the trap has wants to hit it down the ground, but fails to time it right. The ball flies toward long on, and it is once again Shafali Verma, who runs a bit to her left and pouches it safely into her hands near her midriff. Hong Kong, China Women lose their fifth wicket with 52 runs on the board.

2

Overs13.1

Score52 - 4

Nandani Sharma to Maryam Bibi, Nearly dragged on! Back of a length, angling in, just outside off. Bibi looks to cut it away, but gets an inside edge. The ball goes past the stumps and rolls away toward deep fine leg. The deep third runs to her left and cuts it to two runs.

4

Overs12.6

Score50 - 4

Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, FOUR! Hammered away. The 50 is up for Hong Kong, China Women. Flighted up, on middle. Lamplough brings out the broom and connects well. Rolls her wrists over the ball and hits it to the right of deep mid-wicket for four more.

4

Overs12.5

Score46 - 4

Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, FOUR! Good use of the feet. On a length, tossed up, on off. Lamplough skips down the track and uses her long levers to launch it down the ground. Shafali Verma is a bit in off the ropes and placed wide at long on. As a result, she stands no chance.

1

Overs12.2

Score41 - 4

Sree Charani to Marina Lamplough, Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Fired in from around the wicket, on a good length, on middle and leg. Lamplough goes for the reverse sweep but the ball kicks up a bit to graze the blade before catching the forearm. It lobs over the head of the keeper and the batters cross for one.

0

Overs11.2

Score36 - 4

Prema Rawat to Maryam Bibi, This is pushed through on a good length, in line with the off stump. Bibi gets her bat in line with the ball and stabs it down.

W

Overs11.1

Score36 - 3

Prema Rawat to Kary Chan, OUT! TAKEN! Wicket number 2 for Prema Rawat, and she is just loving it. A touch fuller, outside off. Kary Chan gets down on one knee and looks to slog it across, but ends up hitting it from the toe end of the bat. The ball goes only as far as long on and it is Shafali Verma who stands still and reverse scoops it near her chest.

0

Overs10.6

Score36 - 3

Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, Gaud follows the batter with a length ball as she backs away. Lamplough has a heave across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads.

0

Overs10.5

Score36 - 3

Kranti Gaud to Marina Lamplough, Tucking the batter up for room, on a good length. Lamplough attempts the reverse and somehow manages to get it away towards backward point off the splice of the bat.