Women’s T20 WC: All-round effort gives India big victory

India sent out a warning shot to the other contenders with another convincing win in the run-up to the Women’s T20 World Cup. Having beaten West Indies by 20 runs on Sunday, India today hammered South Africa by 28 runs in their final warm-up match.

Sent in to bat, India posted a competitive 144/7. After another rough start, losing two wickets for 18 runs, India’s middle order did the job with crucial partnerships. Richa Ghosh top-scored with 36 off 25 balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues (30 off 26) and all-rounder Deepti Sharma (35 not out off 29) ensured that India put up a fighting total on the board.

In reply, South Africa could manage only 116/6. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt top-scored for the 2023 Wold Cup finalists with a 26-ball 29. South Africa made a steady start, but the Indian bowlers, led by spinners Asha Sobhana (2/21) and Deepti Sharma (1/2), choked the flow of runs.

Brief scores: India: 144/7 (Ghosh 36; Khaka 5/25); South Africa: 116/6 (Wolvaardt 29; Sobhana 2/21)

Team player

Rodrigues feels adaptability and maintaining a team-first mentality will be key for India to achieve their dream of claiming a maiden ICC title.

India, who reached the final of the T20 World Cup in 2020, will start their campaign in the ninth edition of the tournament against New Zealand on October 4.

“For me, it’s all about assessing the conditions and playing the situation. I just want to keep it simple and do whatever it takes to help the team win and whatever the team needs,” Rodrigues, who hit a 52 in the first warm-up game against West Indies, said.

“When I put things in that perspective, it gets the best out of me and motivates me. For me, whenever it comes to the team, I go and give my life out there,” added the 24-year-old from Mumbai.