Harmanpreet Kaur's heroics, Indian cricketers' Independence Day celebrations and more - Cricket News of Today, 15th August 2018

Harmanpreet Kaur fires Lancashire Thunder to key triumph

Harmanpreet Kaur hammered four boundaries and six sixes in her blitzkrieg

Harmanpreet Kaur bounced back from a string of low scores to mastermind Lancashire Thunder's vital victory in the KIA Super League fixture against Yorkshire Diamonds on Tuesday. The belligerent right-hander smashed a 44-ball 74 to spearhead Thunder to a strong total of 154 at the Stanley Park in Blackpool.

Kaur came into the crease when her team was tottering at 43/2 in the eighth over. She hammered four boundaries and six sixes to wrest the momentum from the Yorkshire bowlers. Even as wickets kept falling at the other end, the 29-year old never curbed her positive instincts and ensured that Lancashire reached a competitive score.

Although Katherine Brunt tried to steer the Diamonds to the target, Lancashire's arsenal of spinners had the last laugh. The narrow nine-run victory has taken Thunder to fourth position in the league table ahead of the last round of group matches.