India make last four

PATNA, December 22: India cruised into the semi-finals of the Hero Honda Sixth Women's World Cup cricket tourney defeating South Africa by ...

PATNA, December 22: India cruised into the semi-finals of the Hero Honda Sixth Women8217;s World Cup cricket tourney defeating South Africa by five wickets in the third quarter-final match played at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium here today.

Winning the toss, South Africa skipper Kim Price elected to bat first but the team was all out for 80 in 43.1 overs. India reached the target in 28 overs losing five wickets.

Purnima Rao was the top scorer for India making 24 while Chandrakanta Ahir contributed 21.

Earlier, South Africa lost Linda Oliver the first ball. Deepa Kulkarni took two wickets giving away only four runs. However, Renu Margreat and Punima Rau also got two wickets each while Neetu David and skipper Pramila Bhat got one each. After a bad start the Indian third wicket partnership between Purnima Rau and Chandrakanta fetched 51 runs in 87 balls which made the foundation of the Indian win.

Purnima Rao was adjudged the eve-of-the-match .India will meet Australia in the first semi-final slated for December 24 at New Delhi.

Scoreboard

South Africa: L Oliver lbw R Margaret 0, D Terblanche c amp; b Nitu David 25, E Akehurst b R Margaret 4, D Reid lbw Poornima Rao 7, H Davies b Poornima Rao 0, K Laing run out 0, C Eksteen c Anju b Kulkarni 24, A Kotze lbw Kulkarni 2, A Kuylaars b Bhatt 2, K Price not out 3, K Swart run out 0; Extras b2, w11. Totalin 43.1 overs 80

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-27, 4-27, 5-36, 6-49, 7-64, 8-70 9-80Bowling: R Margaret 6-1-13-2, P Chaudhary 4-0-12-0, N David 8-2-7-1, P Rao 7-1-24-2, D Kulkarni 9.1-7-4-2, P Bhatt 9-3-18-1

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India: Anju Jain b Eksteen 2, Anjum Chopra lbw Kotze 2, Chandrakanta c amp; b Price 21, Purnima Rao b Price 24, Sangita Dabir b Laing 7, Smita Harikrishan not out 2, Renu Margreat not out 3; Extras lb 1, nb 1, w 18 20. Total for five wickets in 28 overs 81

Fall of Wickets: 1-6, 2-12, 3-63, 4-75, 5-77

Bowling: Atta Kotze 4-0-18-1, Cindy Eksteen 8-1-22-1, Alius Kuylaars 2-0-10-0, Karin Suart 3-0-10-0, Kerri Laing 6-0-17-1, Kim Price 5-3-3-2.