Revision as of 22:58, 12 November 2018

2009-2016

The Times of India

The winning nations

Women’s World T20, 2009-2016: The winning nations
From [ The Times of India ]

See graphic, ' Women’s World T20, 2009-2016: The winning nations '

India’s performance

India has never won the World T20 in their previous five attempts. Their best results, semi-final appearances, came in 2009 and 2010.

2018

India beat New Zealand; three records

India beat New Zealand
The Indians created three world records
From: November 10, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- India and New Zealand. Women’s World T20 cricket- 2018
From: November 11, 2018: The Times of India

ICC WOMEN'S WORLD T20 WEST INDIES 2018

Harmanpreet Kaur, just like one of her idols Virender Sehwag, believes in a simple principle – see the ball, hit the ball. Her batting exploits in the 2017 50-over World Cup in England -- when she had knocked the daylights out of the Australian attack en route an epic 171 in the semifinal -- earned her the monikers of ‘Hurricane Harman’ and ‘Harmanator’.

As fans were scampering to find another moniker to put in perspective Harmapreet’s latest batting carnage, this time against the hapless New Zealand bowlers.

In India’s opening game in the ICC Women’s World T20 in Providence, Guyana, Harmanpreet tore the Kiwi attack to shreds with an explosive 51-ball 103, decorated with seven fours and an astonishing eight sixes, some of them travelling well into the stands.

The knock by India’s captain meant India reached a formidable 194/4 in their 20 overs. In the process, she also became the first Indian woman to hit a T20I hundred and the third overall in the World T20. The girl from Moga in Punjab also hit the third fastest T20I century – which came in just 49 balls – behind West Indies’ Deandra Dottin (38 balls) and England’s Tammy Beaumont (47).

The pressure of the mammoth total and some quality spin bowling by the Indians smothered New Zealand, restricting them to 160/9 as the Women in Blue triumphed by 34 runs.

Harmanpreet prospered in the company of Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored an impressive 45-ball 59 studded with seven fours. The two put on a 134-run fourth-wicket partnership in just 76 balls to propel India to a big score. The two had joined hands after India were left struggling at 40/3 in 5.4 overs following twin strikes by pacer Lea-Marie Tahuhu.

Harmanpreet began slowly, scoring just three off the first nine deliveries she faced. But, off the next 40, she smashed an astonishing 98 to reach her century, overcoming pain in her midriff during the innings. Her strokes had both power and finesse, giving the sparse crowd a glimpse of her prowess. With Rodrigues around, there was no let-up in hostility as the two Indian batswomen sent the opposition fielders on a leather-hunt.

This was India’s second highest total in T20I, coming close to 198/4 scored against the visiting England side in Mumbai in March this year.

New Zealand’s reply got off to a fine start, with experienced Suzie Bates and Anna Peterson (14) stitching a 52-run partnership for the opening wicket. However, the introduction of slow bowlers made things difficult for them. Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav’s twin strikes in the 10th over virtually scuttled the chase.

And when Bates got out for a 50-ball 67, even the faint hopes of making a comeback into the game went up in smoke.

Indian bowlers were complimented by a fine fielding effort in the middle, highlighted by Deepti Sharma’s two outstanding catches at long-on.

India beat Pakistan

Women’s Worlds: India Ease To 7-Wkt Triumph Vs Pak, November 11, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- India and Pakistan. Women’s World T20 cricket- 2018
From: Women’s Worlds: India Ease To 7-Wkt Triumph Vs Pak, November 11, 2018: The Times of India

India notched up an easy sevenwicket win over Pakistan for their second victory in two games in the World Women's T20. Needing to make a modest 134 after restricting Pakistan to 133/7, India rode on a measured 56 by veteran Mithali Raj and her 73-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana (26) to reach the target in 19 overs.

Raj was her assured self and hit seven fours in her knock. Mandhana was also looking good before she was caught by Umaima Sohail in the deep off Maroof, yet another instance of her getting out after getting set.

Indian bowlers pinned Pakistan down for most part of their innings before allowing them to wriggle out for 133 for 7. Opting to field after winning the toss, India made a great start with the ball, reducing Pakistan to 30 for 3 in the seventh over. But Pakistan made a fine recovery thanks to half-centuries from Bismah Maroof (53) and Nida Dar (52) as the duo stitched 93 runs for the fourth wicket.

India also dropped at least three easy catches, which allowed Pakistan to make a comeback in the Group B match.

Opening bowler Arundhati Reddy gave India an early breakthrough by having Ayesha Zafar caught at the slips by Veda Krishnamurthy for nought in the first over. Pakistan could have been in a worse situation had Mandhana not dropped captain Javeria Khan in the third over. But two runouts in the space of three overs gave India the upper hand.