For three consecutive editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup India have made at least the semi-finals and that is quite an achievement. Up against Australia’s might in the last-four clash of the ongoing tournament in Cape Town on Thursday, India face the real test of their mettle.

Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates will have to play “extraordinary cricket” if they are to beat the Australians and make the final, feels Jhulan Goswami, who herself has been a part of many such tough contests.

India have beaten Pakistan, the West Indies and Ireland (in a rain-hit game) in Group 2 to qualify for the semis. But they lost to England, a team that’s far stronger than the other three sides in the group.

Jhulan, though, believes if India can keep things simple and hold their nerves in pressure situations, it’s possible to overcome the Aussie hurdle.

“We all know how strong a team Australia are, having won the T20 World Cup five times. There’s immense depth in the side with almost all their bases covered, so India have to play extraordinary cricket to beat them. But having said so, it’s still possible for India to beat them and reach the final,” the former India pacer and captain told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

“We did beat them in 2017 (in the semi-final of the 50- over World Cup). Also, last December at home, we had beaten them in one of the matches of the T20I series. That shows Australia, too, are beatable.

“All that these girls need to do is keep things as simple as possible and be clear in their minds about what needs to be done during critical phases. You can’t be in two minds during such periods. Even in a pressure situation, if you feel you need to hit the ball, just hit it. Don’t flinch,” Jhulan, mentor and bowling coach of Mumbai Indians in the inaugural Women’s IPL, said.

Just as Smriti Mandhana did during her 87-run knock against Ireland, one of the batters should stay almost till the end which could keep India well placed in the semi-final, Jhulan stressed. “It’s important for one of the set batters to bat through as that’s one way to lessen the number of dot balls,” she stated.

What should the bowlers be doing to keep the Aussie batters quiet? “Strike early, something (pacer) Renuka Thakur has been doing quite consistently,” Jhulan mentioned.

Dot balls a worry for skipper

Gqeberha: India’s inability to rotate strike is a “worrying” sign, captain Harmanpreet Kaur has conceded, adding that the women’s team has been discussing how to address its long-standing dotball issue ahead of the T20 World Cup semis.

India qualified for the semi-finals of the marquee event after a five-run win over Ireland via DLS method on Monday. But rotation of strike — that they struggled with during the series against Australia in December and tri-series earlier this month too — remains an issue.

“Dot balls are something which (are) already worrying us,” Harmanpreet said after the match. “In the next game (against Australia on Thursday), we would love to see some improvement in that area. Against England, we played too many dot balls. Things like that we have already been discussing in team meetings.”

PTI