Rain powers India into maiden T20 World Cup final

India wouldn’t have wanted this way but it is what it is. The Women in Blue are through to the finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 after torrential rains washed out any chances of having a reduced semi-final clash against England in Sydney on Thursday (March 5). For the record, India have never beaten the former champions in their last five attempts in the history of the competition – they should thank rain gods for this one – and it now leaves Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. a golden opportunity to lift the coveted title at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on International Women’s Day on Sunday (March 8).

India will meet either Australia or South Africa in the final, who are slated to play in the second semi-final later on Thursday at the same ground, and if that match also gets washed out, then the Proteas will be through courtesy them topping the Group B. With no reserve day allotted for the semi-finals, it came as a huge blow for the English side as they would be rueing their first-match loss earlier in the tournament.

The Heather Knight-led side had the same number (three) of wins as South Africa in Group B but finished second in the group. With the Proteas’ last encounter against West Indies also being abandoned due to rain, both the teams shared a point each allowing South Africa to top the group with seven points. There isn’t any rain forecast for Sunday’s final and in case the skies open up, there is a reserve day in place.

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On Thursday, it was dark, gloomy and grey from the morning itself along with the heavy rains leaving the ground staff with no opportunities left. Such was the condition even the ground and pitch inspection were not possible.

I am feeling bad for the 4 people on the ground who are standing in the rain for more than 2 hours now without moving.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/4QIJ58dP1W

— Yash Lahoti (@YvLahoti) March 5, 2020

For India, they should go all out in the final and believe in their potentials. They have played some outstanding cricket throughout the tournament beating the likes of defending champions Australia and New Zealand in the process. India’s 2017 50-over World Cup final clash with England has changed the dimension of women’s cricket in the country and this edition will too do the same.

Before the start of the competition, Jemimah Rodrigues said, ‘How India fare in this World Cup is going to set the tone for women’s cricket in India’, and India’s performance so far has definitely made young minds to think about their career by now.