On this day three years ago, Harmanpreet Kaur scored 171 runs off just 115 balls against Australia at the County Ground in Derby which helped guide India to final of the tournament.

India had won the toss and the Mithali Raj-led side elected to bat first. The match was reduced to 42 overs per side due to rain. 

July 20, 2020

India faced issues as they were reduced to 35/2 in the 10th over with Smriti Mandhana (6) and Punam Raut (14) being sent back to the pavilion.

It was when Harmanpreet joined Mithali Raj in the middle and the duo went on to form a 66-run stand. Mithali (36), however, was sent back to the pavilion in the 25th over, but Harmanpreet continued to get the runs on the board. Harmanpreet was helped by Deepti Sharma and both formed a 137-run stand for the fourth wicket. 

The right-handed Harmanpreet registered 20 fours and seven sixes in her innings to take India's total to 281/4 in the allotted 42 overs. 

When came in to defend, India bundled out Australia for 245 runs. Deepti Sharma scalped three wickets while Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey registered two wickets each. 

India entered the finals of the tournament with Harmanpreet being declared as the Player of the Match. The Mithali Raj-led side, however, could not clinch the trophy and lost against hosts England at the Lord's Cricket Ground.

Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif too praised the current Indian women's captain saying that she has brought rise to Indian women's cricket team.

"Three years back, on this day, Harmanpreet Kaur hit 171*(115) v Australia in World Cup semi-final. Quality innings under pressure. The rise of Indian women's cricket in the past three years has been phenomenal @ImHarmanpreet," Kaif tweeted.

July 20, 2020

Earlier this year too, India managed to enter the summit clash of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup but failed to grab the title as Australia won the match by 85 runs at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

(Inputs from ANI)