India’s T20 captain smashed her maiden half century in the KIA Super League on Tuesday in Blackpool as her side Lancashire Thunder recorded a crucial 9-run win over Yorkshire Diamonds to stay in contention for the final’s day of the tournament.

Batting at No 4 for the Thunder, Kaur scored 74 runs from 44 balls in a blistering innings that included four fours and six sixes. She was the ninth and final wicket to fall, caught off the penultimate delivery of the innings, taking her side to 154/9 in 20 overs.

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Kaur was off to a steady start, with 12 runs off the first 14 balls she faced. She plundered 62 runs off the next 30 balls, with four of her six sixes coming in the last 10 overs.

Diamonds made 145/8 in reply, with their run-chase not recovering after initial blows reduced them to 70/4 in the 12th over.

Thunder will play their last game of the league phase versus Southern Vipers on August 18

Scores: Lancashire Thunder 154/9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 74; Katherine Brunt 3-22) beat Yorkshire Diamonds 145/8 in 20 overs (Katherine Brunt 44*; Alex Hartley 2-27) by 9 runs.