Hamilton, March 11: After a crushing 62-run loss to hosts New Zealand, India’s batting performance quest continues as they take on the undefeated West Indies in their third ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup league match at Seddon Park on Saturday. In both matches, India’s top-order batting failed to soar, resulting in a lack of urgency in the first 10 overs.
Now fifth in the points table, India need to correct their mistakes with matches against defending champions England and six-time winners Australia coming next week. But it’s easier to say that the West Indies have been the surprise giant killers of the tournament, defeating New Zealand and England by three and seven runs respectively in their opening two matches.
Against Pakistan, India were in tatters at 114/6 before Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar rescued them with a partnership of 122 counter-attacking runs. But against a New Zealand bowling attack, India was never in the hunt to chase 261 and despite Harmanpreet Kaur making 71 of 63 deliveries, India eventually managed 198. The number of point balls played by India in both matches is also a concern and means the strike rotation must have more in play, which it hasn’t.
Such was India’s lackluster batting display against New Zealand that even head coach Ramesh Powar was ‘taken aback’. “It was one of those days where things didn’t go our way. Honestly, I was also surprised by the way we batted in the first 20 overs. If you look back at the last six games we played against New Zealand, we were running Our plans are fine. I think it’s the pressure of the World Cup, but I don’t want to give any excuse”, were the words of Powar in the virtual press conference prior to the match.
Smriti Mandhana hasn’t been in her usual stroke-play form in both matches, while it will be a draw between Shafali Verma in distress and Yastika Bhatia out of it to be her partner. Deepti Sharma will need to get more runs at number three, as will skipper Mithali Raj.
The decision to get a top order on the left without having experienced international cricket before did not give the desired streaks for India.
In the bowling department, there has been some merriment due to Pooja’s rhythm and Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s left arm spin.
The West Indies, on the other hand, have been on a roll in the World Cup. Defending scores of 259 and 225 to pull off thrilling wins against New Zealand and England means the Stafanie Taylor-led side have plenty of confidence in all three departments of the game.
Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle and Anisa Mohammed have been the main architects of the winning giant from the West Indies.
Senior leader Shakera Selman acknowledged the early winning wave but is aware that it is a complacent act for the West Indies. “But we’re not going to get carried away. We know we’re going to have to keep fighting, it’s going to get harder, our coaches have reminded us that we came into this world quite under the radar. No teams are going to focus on us, so we know it will be more difficult”. With the West Indies bracing for tougher challenges, India’s path to victory will not be easy. For that, they’ll need their bat to click in unison.
India Squads: Mithali Raj (Captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (Vice-Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (Goalkeeper), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh Thakur , Taniya Bhatia (goalkeeper), Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Poonam Yadav.
West Indies: Stafanie Taylor (Captain), Anisa Mohammed (Vice-Captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle (Goalkeeper), Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation , Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman and Rashada Williams.