India qualify for Women's T20 WC semis after win over Ireland under D/L method
Gqeberha (South Africa), Feb 20: India qualified for the semifinals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup after a five-run win over Ireland under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-affected match here on Monday.
Opting to bat, India posted 155 for six with star opener Smriti Mandhana hitting a T20I career-best 87 off 56 balls.
Chasing the challenging target of 156, Ireland were 54 for two in 8.2 overs when heavy rains stopped play.
The DLS par score after 8.2 overs was 59 and Ireland were five runs short of that total.
As the match could not be restarted after the heavy rains, India won the match under the D/L Method.
Opener Gaby Lewis was 32 not out off 25 balls.
Brief Scores:
India: 155 for 6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 87; Laura Delany 3/33, Orla Prendergast 2/22).
Ireland: 54 for 2 in 8.2 overs.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Cricketer Rinku Singh's father passes away after prolonged illness
Aligarh/Noid (PTI): Indian cricketer Rinku Singh's father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida early Friday following a prolonged illness, family sources said.
Dr. Sunil Kumar, spokesperson of Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where the cricketer's father was admitted, said Khanchand Singh was battling liver cancer.
"His condition had deteriorated significantly in recent days, following which he had been admitted to the hospital on February 21. He was placed on ventilator support and breathed his last early this morning," Kumar said.
Due to his father's critical condition, Rinku had to return home midway through the T20 World Cup. However, he rejoined the Indian team ahead of the match against Zimbabwe on February 26. He had also recently visited Noida to meet his father.
Rinku's former coach, Masood Amini, told PTI Videos in Aligarh that Khanchand Singh had been battling advanced-stage liver cancer and was in the terminal phase of the illness.
"He had been unwell for quite some time. He was suffering from liver cancer. For the past three to four days, he was on ventilator support," Amini said.
Amini said Rinku's father worked tirelessly to support his family and educate his children.
"He started out working as a gas cylinder delivery man and worked very hard to raise his family," he said.
The 28-year-old cricketer, a resident of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, credits much of his success to his father. Khanchand Singh, who worked in gas cylinder distribution in Aligarh, supported his son's dream of becoming a cricketer despitefacing financial hardships.
The family said Khanchand Singh's last rites will be performed in Aligarh, and Rinku will attend the funeral.
