The Indian brigade was put to a stern test against defending champions, hosts and four-time champion, Australia.
India needed an inspirational spell of bowling in order to restrict the mighty batting order under 132. At one point in time, the Aussies were cruising at 55 for the loss of just one wicket during the ninth over.
However, it all changed with the introduction of leggie Poonam Yadav, coming back to international cricket after injury.
Her spell of 4-19, in her quota of four overs, turned out to be the deciding factor in the match. Yadav went on to bamboozle the Aussie women with her loopy wrong-uns. She bowled as many as 14 dot balls during her spell.
Further, Yadav was unfortunate to miss out on a hat-trick, yet again in her career, when Tania Bhatia spilt a catch off her bowling.
She first picked the wicket of the dangerous looking Australian opener Meg Lanning, who was running away with the match with her knock of 51.
After being hit for a boundary, she picked the wickets of Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry off successive deliveries to turn the match around for her side.
Jess Jonassen almost gave Poonam her hattrick after edging a delivery off a wrong-uns. Later, she took her wicket to complete her four-wicket haul. India won the match by 17 runs and Yadav was adjudged the player of the match.
Here’s a look at her brilliant spell of bowling:
