Bowling was below par: Reema Malhotra
First Published : 06 Feb 2013, 10:25
Last Modified : 06 Feb 2013, 10:25
Their 138-run loss to Sri Lanka, ended India Women’s 2013 World Cup campaign. Chasing a mountainous total, the hosts failed to build substantial partnerships and succumbed to the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
However, even as wickets kept falling at regular intervals, coming in at No.6, Reema Malhotra tried to hold up one end and fight back after the Indian top order was back in the dressing room. With 38 runs, Malhotra was the top scorer for the team in the contest and attempted to stitch together partnerships until she was run out.
After India’s heartbreaking loss, Malhotra looked back on her performance and the match while speaking to bcci.tv.
Excerpts from her brief interview:
On what was going through her mind while batting against Sri Lanka
It was a good wicket to bat on, so I thought if we play till for the full fifty overs, we could get to 251 so that we can qualify for the Super Six stage. So I was trying to stay there and play my shots.
On what went wrong while bowling
I think we bowled badly and that is why we lost the match, because on both sides of the wicket they were getting boundaries in each and every over. And in the last ten overs they scored 94 runs, and that was a big loss for us.
On her advice to her partners while batting against Sri Lanka
I was just telling them that it is a good wicket to bat on. I just told them stay there, get their eye in and play their shots.
On what aspects of her game has she been working on
I have been working on batting and bowling and fielding since I am an all-rounder. So I have to work on all three departments.
On the impact of this loss
This is my third World Cup [...]. I wanted to win it for my country but we couldn’t do that. It is a sad day for us.
On their upcoming last match of the tournament, play off for the seventh place against Pakistan
We will play for our pride.
