India outplayed Pakistan in the final to win the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team ensured that the Cup remains with the team as they lifted it for the sixth straight time.
While they hadn’t lost a game during the league phase, India had to take on arch-rivals Pakistan once gain for the title. Speaking about the final, skipper Harmanpreet said, “We didn’t want to take on added pressure thinking about playing against Pakistan. We had played well in all the matches leading up to the final. Each one had played her part well for the team. Everyone was asked to think about it as a final and fulfil whatever role that was assigned in whatever situation they found themselves.”
Asked about the plan, Harmanpreet said, “The wickets that we were playing on were turning tracks and it wasn’t easy to bat on them. So, for the final our mindset was that we would prefer to bat first. The toss is not in our hands but if we win it we would bat first. While batting Mithali di (Raj) was given the role to bat through the 20 overs and the others would support and she did that extremely well.”
Looking back on the final, she said, “Our target was that we have to post runs in excess of 120. In the league phase, they had made 97 runs batting first and so we were looking at a total above 120. Our spinners bowled well. Jhulu di (Jhulan Goswami) also played a (important) role. Her four overs were really important. The role given to her of bowling stump to stump, she did that and bowled according plan.”
Reflecting on the win, coach Purnima Rau too reiterated and acknowledged the role of the spinners throughout the tournament. “The spinners have done well whether it was Ekta Bisht, Preeti Bose, Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav whenever she played.
“Against Pakistan in group stages, we fielded first and we won and then in the final we batted first and we won. We have played on all the four wickets. The players have done well on each wicket, they got used to it and they adapted beautifully on it. The most important was I think was Mithali’s innings. She was inspiring for the team and she ferried us across in all the games in fact. Opening partnership augured very well for us that set us on course of the tournament.
“(In the final) Jhulan took the game to the opposition. She hit two massive sixes. I think that was the final nail in the coffin for them. And that first over that she bowled, brought sanity because by then they had about 20 odd runs into the overs. The best part is everybody contributed,” the coach said.
Speaking about the team’s preparation Rau said, “We had a head start against all the teams because we got to play three T20s against the West Indies. Irrespective of the result, we take all the positives. I was sure that would help them in the Asia Cup and that’s exactly what happened. If we had not played those three T20s, we would probably have been slightly on the backfoot. But since we played, we were able to explore a lot more options and positives.”
Speaking about Harmanpreet, who was leading India in only her second T20 tournament she said, “Harman has gone from strength to strength, match to match. She has grown as a captain and I think she deserves all those laurels. I wish her more success. She is definitely on a learning curve and I am extremely happy for her. When you lead a side and for everything to fall into place and that’s exactly what has happened. It is a testament for her talent, potential and her journey in this game.”
Reflecting on the series win, the captain said, “It feels good. When we started the tournament, we were taking it one game at a time. The plan was to win each game and think about the final when we reach there.
