Women's World Cup 2017 Semi-Final: Harmanpreet Kaur Smashes Unbeaten 171, Virat Kohli And Others Congratulate Her

Harmanpreet Kaur played inarguably one of the finest ODI innings ever to lead India to victory against Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 on Thursday. The Indian vice-captain smashed her way to a career-best magical 171 off 115 balls, leaving the Australian bowlers in a daze and helping India post an imposing total of 281/4 in a reduced match of 42 overs a side due to inclement weather.

The innings could well be termed as the best ever played by an Indian woman in the limited overs cricket. This is also the second highest individual score in ODIs for India behind Deepti Sharma's 188 not out against South Africa earlier this year.

The Twitter erupted with joy as wishes poured in from all quarters. 

Smashing performance @ImHarmanpreet. Many congratulations! @BCCIWomen #INDvAUS #ICCWomensWorldCup2017

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) July 20, 2017

Incredible batting by @ImHarmanpreet! Come on India- Let's go out and win the second half of the game as well. #AUSvIND #WWC17 #WomenInBlue

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 20, 2017

What an innings by @ImHarmanpreet and a brilliant effort by the bowlers also so far.. #INDvAUS @BCCIWomen #ICCWomensWorldCup2017

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 20, 2017

Haven't seen such singlehanded dominance in a long, long time. It's Harmanpreet Kaur vs Australia out there.
????????#WWC17 #INDvAUS

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 20, 2017

281 in 42overs is a wonderful score & Harmanpreet Kaur has just played one of the all time great Innings in any WC match.What a joy#IndvAus

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 20, 2017

Raging performance by @ImHarmanpreet ????way to go.. #Girlpower ??#IndvsAus #WWC17

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 20, 2017

Harmanpreet you rockstar. Simply awesome - @ImHarmanpreet @BCCIWomen #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/olwm0UHjZc

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) July 20, 2017

Outstanding batting by @ImHarmanpreet brutal power ,clean hitting class knock #punjabipower #AUSvIND #WWC17

— Jasprit bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) July 20, 2017

An Innings of a lifetime , Harmanpreet Kaur . What wonderful clean hitting. More than 60% of India's runs.
Fan ! Over to the Bowlers now. pic.twitter.com/xZlIB2SW4x

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 20, 2017

That's brutal power by @ImHarmanpreet! Hope it turns out to be a match winning knock ??. Some serious hitting there. #WWC17 @BCCIWomen

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) July 20, 2017

In Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur, young Indian girls now have three fine role models to seek to emulate.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 20, 2017

Har Man Ko Jeet Liya 'Kaur' ke shots ne....10th ODI fifty. Consecutive fifties in #WWC17. #IndvAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 20, 2017

Take a bow @ImHarmanpreet , best innings I've ever seen!! #WWC17

— Charlotte Edwards (@Lottie2323) July 20, 2017

What an exceptional performance by @ImHarmanpreet .. Great innings!

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 20, 2017

Harmanpreet's third ODI century was embellished with 20 fours and as many as seven sixes.

It was out of the world power-hitting by the girl from Moga district in Punjab -- something that has made her a stand-out player for India.

The milestone from 51 to 100 was reached in 26 balls while she raced to 150 from 101 in mere 17 balls. The sixes flew from her bat with monotonic regularity as the Aussie bowlers had no clue as to what hit them.

After a dry run during the better part of the league stage, India's most sought after T20 cricketer stepped up just when it mattered the most.

After a useful 60 against New Zealand in the virtual quarter-final, Harmanpreet upped the ante like never before.

She batted like as if there was no tomorrow as she repeatedly hit the troika of left-arm spinner Jess Jonasen (0/63 in 7 overs), off-break bowler Ashleigh Gardner (1/43 in 8 overs) and leg-spinner Kirsten Beans (1/49 in 8 overs) with utter disdain.

Her footwork against the spinners was exemplary as she would repeatedly come down the track to loft them in the arc between long-on and deep mid-wicket.

She seemed in some discomfort with side strain but that did not deter her from targetting the on-side as a whopping 137 runs was added in 13.4 overs along with Deepti Sharma (25) for fourth wicket.

Such was her focus that once she scampered home for a double to complete her hundred, she was seen shouting at Deepti after she flung her helmet in disgust.

She regained her composure, said sorry to a teary-eyed junior and like a woman on mission completely annihilated the opposition bowlers.

(With PTI inputs)