Smriti Mandhana Shines As India Qualifies To The Women's T20 World Cup Semifinals

India advanced to the semifinals of the Women's T20 World Cup with a five-run triumph against Ireland in a rain-affected encounter here on Monday, led by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana's career-best 56-ball 87.

Mandhana led by example with nine mouthwatering fours and three sixes to help India reach 155 for six in the restricted 20 overs on a pitch that was far from ideal for batting and where most struggled to force the tempo.

In response, Ireland got off to a shaky start, with opener Amy Hunter (1) being run out before Renuka Singh bowled Orla Prendergast for nought.

Ireland rallied from 1/2 in the first over to reach 54 for 2 in the ninth over, when the heavens opened up and forced the players indoors. Play did not restart after that.

At that time, Ireland needed 102 runs in 70 balls and was five runs short of the Duckworth/Lewis par score of 59, allowing India to win.

When the game was called, Gaby Lewis and skipper Laura Delany were batting on 32 and 17, respectively.

India will meet defending champions Australia in the last four phases.

Following a semifinal participation in 2018, and a runner-up finish in 2020, India is making its third consecutive semifinal appearance.

India, last year's runners-up, recovered from an 11-run defeat to England in their previous match with the victory.

Earlier, after captain Harmanpreet Kaur (13) won the toss and chose to bat, India got off to a good start, with the opening pair of Mandhana and Shafali Verma putting up 62 runs in just under 10 overs at St George's Park.

However Shafali was caught by Amy Hunter off the bowling of captain Delany, who was called into the attack after the frontline bowlers failed to get the team a breakthrough.

Harmanpreet joined Mandhana in the middle, hoping to form a partnership. Playing strokes proved challenging on a surface that appeared to be a little slower.

Despite the slow quality of the pitch, Mandhana maintained an outstanding strike rate and reached her half-century with a six over deep midwicket against leg-spinner Cara Murray.

Mandhana was fortunate to dodge a scare shortly before her fifty, but Arlene Kelly was unable to complete the catch as the batter top-edged a tossed-up delivery from Murray towards mid-wicket.

Mandhana then hit two fours in a row off Georgina Dempsey before blasting Delaney over the cow corner for another maximum.

Ireland responded by dismissing Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh in consecutive balls, but Mandhana continued to target the bowlers, hitting two more boundaries from Kelly before hitting Delany for a four and a six to help India reach 150.

A century was on the cards, but Mandhana's superb performance was cut short as she attempted to fly.

Jemimah Rodrigues hit two fours in the penultimate over before being caught for a 12-ball 19 in India's innings.