Indian bats misfire, lose by 4 wkts to Eng
Melbourne, February 7
The Indian women’s team produced another listless batting performance to suffer a second successive loss in the T20 triangular series, going down to England by four wickets.
Sent in to bat, India struggled to 123/6 in 20 overs with opener Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with a 40-ball 45. Chasing the total, Natalie Sciver smashed a fifty as England romped home comfortably, scoring 124/6 with seven balls to spare. Sciver’s 50 off 38 balls contained six hits to the fence and one six.
For India, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/23) was outstanding with the ball while Radha Yadav (1/24) also took two wickets but the total on the board was just not enough.
Shafali misfires again
Sixteen-year-old Shafali Verma lasted just nine balls before being bowled by Sophie Ecclestone in the sixth over. Mandhana, who smashed seven fours and one six in her 40-ball innings, was the next to go as she was caught behind by Amy Jones off Katharine Brunt in the 10th over. Jemimah Rodrigues (23) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (14) got decent starts, only to throw it away. Harmanpreet took the team past the 100-mark before becoming Anya Shrubsole’s second victim.
Anya strikes
One ball later, Taniya Bhatia too was back in the hut. Shrubsole was adjudged the Player of the Match for her 3/31. India will next play against Australia on February 8. India must win that match to have any chance of reaching the final of the series.
Brief Scores: India women: 123/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 45; Anya Shrubsole 3/31); England women: 124/6 in 18.5 overs (Natalie Sciver 50; Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/23). — PTI
