Once again, it’s time to congratulate Raj and team. India’s winning streak continues as Women in Blue has won their second group match in 2017 edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup by 7 wickets.
Once again a superb performance by Mithali Raj and team. Inviting the opposition team to bat after winning the toss, restricting them to an achievable total and then chasing in such a classic way; all went so perfect for India.
Below are some statistics of the game:-
Toss – Won by India who chose to bowl first
West Indies – 183/8 (50 overs)
India – 186/3 (42.3 overs)
Top scorer for India – Smriti Mandhana ( 106* runs in 108 balls including 13 fours and 2 sixes)
Top scorer for West Indies – Hayley Matthews ( 43 runs in 57 balls)
Player of the match – Smriti Mandhana (India)
Put into bat first, West Indies started their innings with openers Hayley Matthews and Felicia Walters. India got their first breakthrough early in 7th over itself, Walters being caught by Sushma Verma on Ekta Bisht’s ball. Spinner Deepti Sharma bowled a terrific spell from the other end, not giving any chance to West Indies players to play shots. This pressure built up by too many dot balls forced Matthews to make an error and give away her wicket in 20th over when WI score was 70/2. In the very next over West Indian captain had to walk back to the pavilion following a direct hit run out by S. Mandhana.
It seemed runs were dried up, none of the WI batters was able to get off the stranglehold of spinners. From 21st to 26th over, only 5 runs came. Even before they could think of accelerating the pace of run-making, 4th wicket fell in 28th over. On one hand, wickets kept falling one after the other, the scoreboard was not moving much.
WI reached 100 runs mark in 36th over. The only respite for the Caribbean team was to score in the overs of seamers. Finally, after last 3 big overs, WI team could reach some decent score.
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Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut to open for India after the innings break. But India also got off to a bad start with P. Raut getting out for a duck in the very 1st over. Mandhana produced some classic cricketing shots before Deepti Sharma got bowled out by the Caribbean team’s captain. Now, Indian skipper Mithali Raj came out to join in -form Mandhana. What India needed at this time was, a few runs on the board without losing a wicket and who could better navigate it then these two. Soon, riding on some very sensible cricket played by these two batters, India was making a slow but steady progress towards its goal. Although seeing the effectiveness of Indian spinners, West Indies also brought in more of spin attack but unlike WI, India did not succumb to it. Meanwhile, Mandhana reached her half century and was on fire after that. Their 100 runs partnership came up in 31st over. Shortly after this, M. Raj departed in 33rd over with just 4 runs short of her 8th consecutive half century. It was the
Although seeing the effectiveness of Indian spinners, West Indies also brought in more of spin attack but unlike WI, India did not succumb to it. Meanwhile, Mandhana reached her half century and was on fire after that. Their 100 runs partnership came up in 31st over. Shortly after this, M. Raj departed in 33rd over with just 4 runs short of her 8th consecutive half century. It was the much-needed wicket for WI but it was too late probably as India’s score had reached 141/3 by then. As Mandhana looked determined to take India home with a win, she reached her 2nd ODI hundred in 42nd over. In the same over, she struck a beautiful four to seal the match in India’s favour.
Following is the list of some records made and milestones acheived in this match:-
1. Sixth win for India over WI in ICC Women’s World Cup event in as many games.
2. Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor played their 100th ODI match today.
3. Deepti Sharma has made 576 runs in ODI’s in 2017 so far, most by any player.
4. Mithali Raj has scored 600 plus runs against 5 different oppositions in ODIs, first player to do so.
5. 108 run partnership between Mandhana and Raj was 2nd highest partnership for 3rd wicket for India.
6. S. Mandhana becomes youngest Indian to score century in women’s world cup and 3rd in the world. Also, it’s her 1st century in an World Cup event.
With this win, India gets a perfect 2 on 2 scores in this World Cup so far. There are 5 more group matches lined up and the next one is a BIG one i.e. against arch rivals Pakistan. Also, India is now on the top along with Australia in the points table.
Australia Women won their 2nd encounter against in Sri Lanka Women by 8 wickets earlier this day.
Sri Lanka was able to reach 257 for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 50 overs riding on breathtaking innings by Chamari Atapattu of 178 runs in 143 balls. But no other batter could support her well as the wickets kept falling on the other hand barring a 10over stand between Atapattu and S. Siriwardene.
Also Read Female Cricketers – Then & Now Story.
Australia in return reached the target well in time with 37 balls remaining. After early fall of Beth Mooney in the 2nd over, opener Bolton and captain Meg Lanning played beautiful cricket to put in Australia in the driver’s seat. Lanning played explosive innings with 152 runs off just 135 deliveries. She reached her 150 by hitting a six as the winning runs for Australia.
Chamari Atapattu was adjourned ‘Player of the match’ for her sensational knock.
There is still a long way to go for all the teams as we celebrate India’s win and wish our Women in Blue for their future fixtures.
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‘Gully’ cricket player and close observer of Indian Cricket team and it’s matches. Straight forward and still socially admirable personality. Strong belief in teamwork and possess high leadership skills.
