The India Women’s team put up a solid team effort to beat hosts England in their first game of the ICC Women’s World Cup, 2017. They also ticked a few boxes along the way like a big opening stand courtesy Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut and the middle-order capitalised on it. They then got early breakthroughs and though there were a few fielding lapses, the four run outs kept the balance tipped in India’s favour. India were the first to use the DRS and successfully so in women’s cricket and when the England middle-order threatened to take the game away, the Mithali Raj-led team held their nerve to pull off a convincing win.
Reflecting on the win Mithali said, “It definitely makes a lot of impact for the Indian team posting 281 on the board. This is the highest that we have posted batting first and winning against the hosts in the World Cup with just four-five girls who have played World Cups before, so considering all these factors it’s great that the team has done well.” The captain herself contributed a pacy 71, as she became the first women cricketer to hit seven successive fifties.
She however cautioned, “But again, it is just the first game. We still have six more games to play in the group stage. I just hope that girls continue this, and because knowing the wickets that we are being given all games are going to be very close and very intense.”
Fielding will be an area that the Indians would be working as the look to progress into the knockouts. “Definitely there is a lot to improve on. As a captain, I would have been happy (happier if) whatever the opportunities had come in our way in terms of catches and stumping we would have taken. Maybe the match would not have looked closer in the middle overs from the powerplay on (if we had taken those opportunities). But I am happy (we got) the run-outs. At least you are hitting the wickets when needed. They were very close. Since we have a fielding coach and we can improve; we can give more time to that department. In the coming matches, I hope the team really improves in that department,” Mithali said.
The run outs of Katherine Brunt followed by Fran Wilson by a quick Deepti Sharma and an alert Ekta Bisht to end the 62-run partnership which was cruising at over eight runs per over helped India seize the momentum back.
She also became the first woman captain to use the Decision Review System speaking of which she said, “I am happy that the first one (Natalie Sciver’s wicket) worked out for us. The bowler and the ‘keeper were very confident. I was at covers so I went with their decision.
“DRS is a good addition to the game because if you see most of the dismissals were very close, even the run outs were by few inches so it makes sense to have a DRS yes,” she mentioned.
Earlier, although they lost the toss, Mandhana – Raut duo got India off to a solid 144-run start. Reflecting on their effort, Mithali said, “The way both of them started the innings with the conditions assisting the bowlers, it didn’t feel like they were playing the World Cup or there was any kind of pressure or nerves with them. They just played on the merit of the ball and kept going till 25 overs so. Half of the innings was played by the openers, so that was a great opening stand and we look forward for the similar opening partnerships for the coming games.
“If you have a solid opening partnership your middle-order will come exactly when they are supposed to come and carry on from there, so that’s makes it much easier to post 250 runs and above which is very good for overall game of women’s cricket.”
Mithali added that getting runs in practice game before the tournament helped Mandhana, who has returned to the team after an injury lay-off and play with confidence.
