Proud to score a ton: Kamini
First Published : 01 Feb 2013, 11:04
Last Modified : 01 Feb 2013, 12:08
With a well-crafted knock and superb strokeplay, India Women’s opener M Thirush Kamini helped set up a 105-run win against the West Indies in the first game of the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup. After getting off to a cautious start, the 22-year-old steadily built up the tempo as she posted 100 off 146 balls, before returning to dressing room. Besides becoming the first Indian woman to score a ton in the 50-over World Cup, she was involved in the highest opening partnership for India Women in the World Cup. Thanks to her efforts, her team also posted its highest ever total in the tournament.
After the game, the Player of the Match spoke about the big win.
Excerpts
On her partnership with Poonam Raut
We just kept saying that we will take it ball by ball and will make sure that we were on top. The wicket was good, so we just made sure that the run-rate was maintained throughout the game.
On Poonam Raut’s knock
She played really well. I loved to watch here. She played some amazing shots, the scoop shot especially. She kept the run-rate going.
On the Indian bowlers
The bowlers did a brilliant job starting with Jhulan di [Goswami]; she bowled amazingly today and was well supported by Ami di [Amita Sharma]. And somewhere in between when Deandra Dottin came out to bat I felt a little nervous, but then N Niranjana and the entire bowling line-up did well. We played good cricket.
On her journey back into the team
I had an injury so I was out of action for two years. It feels nice to play the World Cup back at home and good conditions, home conditions, lovely outfield and good wickets to bat on.
On the areas she has worked on
When you come back from an injury, you predominately work on your strength training and fitness and that is what I did. And just before the season, I started working on my batting.
I just concentrated on my shots. I prefer to work a lot on my knocking and that’s what I did during my preparation.
On her historic ton
It definitely it feels good to get a hundred. I didn’t know I was the first [to get a hundred for India Women in a World Cup]; so I feel proud. When I went out bat, I wasn’t thinking of it is an international game or anything like that. I was just thinking of going ball by ball and just watching the ball and going for it.
The ball was coming on to the bat and batting was easy when I went out.
On the pressure while batting
Too many things were going on in my mind. […] I told myself to take it ball by ball, and so did I. The pressure was there, but I made sure that I kept my focus.
On her cricketing journey
I started my cricket when I was nine. My father was a hockey player. I used to watch late night [cricket] matches and was interested in it. And my father is my coach; he taught me to play cricket.
I was trained to be a batsman. My dad says that when I was kid, I wore shin pads and took a bat first and not the ball.
On her natural game
It generally depends on the wicket the conditions and all that. Though I took too many balls to start off today, I knew that somehow I will make up for the balls that I have consumed.
I believe a lot in timing and I guess that’s how my batting goes. […] It depends [on how you] adapt to the conditions, the outfield, the bowlers, etc. You can’t get going from the first ball every game.
