And the tables have turned up!!!
Yes, India has won their first group match in 2017 edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup by 35 runs.
And what a way to win!!! An all round performance by Mithali Raj and team. Posting a mammoth 281 runs for the lose of just 3 wickets (3rd being on the last ball of their innings) with first three players hitting their half centuries each, superb bowling especially by spinners and some spectacular fielding efforts helped India register their first win over England in any World Cup till date.
Below are some statistics of the game:-
Toss – Won by England who chose to bowl first
India – 281/3 (50overs)
England – 246 (all out) (47.3 overs)
Top scorer for India – S. Mandhana ( 90 runs in 72 balls including 11 fours and 2 sixes)
Highest wicket taker for England – H. Knight (2 wickets)
Top scorer for England – FC Wilson ( 81 runs in 75 balls)
Highest wicket taker for India – Deepti Sharma (3 wickets)
Player of the match – S. Mandhana (India)
Put to bat first, Indian batting top order batted brilliantly with openers giving a steady start and building a good platform before Mandhana getting out just 10 runs short of her century in 27th over.
But that could not dampen the spirit of Indian batters as they continued to move the scoreboard quite decently. Raut got out in 43rd over but the job was well done till then.
Mithali Raj played a captain’s knock with a quick innings before getting caught on the last ball of the innings.
English bowlers could not create the required pressure on Indian batters.
But still the challenge was not over as England starting their innings banking on its strong batting line up.
Shikha Pandey got 2 early wickets giving first blow to England in 9th over itself. Both the openers were sent back to pavilion by the end of 12th over.
Then, came Deepti Sharma and started with a wicket on her first ball. Sharma took three wickets and did 1 run out too.
England Captain H. Knight was run out by Harmanpreet Kaur.
There were four run outs, two caught & bowled by Deepti Sharma and a breathtaking catch by Veda Krishnamurthy including an unlucky dismissal of FC Wilson to wrap up the England’s innings on 246 in 47.3 overs.
The turning point was probably the successive dismissals of Brunt and Wilson, two set batters of England.
In the post match ceremony, captains of both the teams thought that the Indian batting was the main reason of India’s dream win.
Well now we take a leave with a promise to keep you updated continuously.
And a big congratulations to Raj and team for this win.
‘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.