ICC Women’s World Cup | Harmanpreet, Mithali, Yastika help India set 278-run target against Australia

Skipper Mithali Raj, Yastika Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur scored half-centuries

Half-centuries from skipper Mithali Raj, Yastika Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur steered India to 277 for seven in their crucial Women's World Cup game against Australia here on Saturday.

Mithali (68 off 96) and Yastika (59 off 83) steadied the innings with a 130-run for the third wicket after India lost openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma cheaply.

With India slipping to 213 for six from 158 for two, Harmanpreet came up with a much needed 57 not out off 47 balls to take the team well past 250. Pooja Vastrakar once again provided the late flourish with 34 off 28 balls.

Pooja and Harmanpreet blasted 64 runs off 47 balls in their seventh wicket stand with India picking 52 runs in the last five overs.

India, who were put in to bat by Australia, decided to strengthen the batting by bringing back opener Shafali at the expense of all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who had batted at four in the previous two games.

Yastika, who batted at three with Shafali joining Smriti at the top, scored her first half century of the tournament batting alongside veteran Mithali, who dropped herself a place down to number four.