Players with momentum should cover up for those not having a good day, says Mithali Raj
Mithali Raj, India ODI skipper, has asserted that players who are in form should capitalize on it and perform to their potential without losing the momentum. She also credited the bowlers for delivering on the second match that led to India’s series win over England, gaining two championship points.
India restricted the England women to 161 in 43.3 overs and chased down the target with over 50 balls to spare to win the series as well as two crucial world championship points. Earlier in the match, Heather Knight won the toss and elected to bat at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai. However, Indian pacers Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey put the visitors in the back seat as the English batswomen had no answers to India’s bowling, crumbling to 119-9 in 35.2 overs. But the 42 run partnership at the end helped the visitors close at 161 in the scorecard.
“Form comes and goes for players, so important for players to do really well when they are in form. The spinners took up the responsibility and did well alongside the pacers. Playing at home, the first 30 minutes is very important. I was a bit disappointed with the 10th wicket partnership England got, but I guess, 150-odd, I knew we were always there," Mithali reflected on the win at the post-match presentation.
England captain Heather Knight also praised the Indian bowlers for leaving the English batswomen clueless and hopes to put up a better performance in the final game. Smriti Mandhana scored a half-century in the second innings while Goswami and Pandey put up a scintillating bowling performance, picking up 8 wickets between themselves. The legendary Indian pacer finished with figures of 4 for 30 and was adjudged the player of the match for taking the decisive wickets of Sarah Taylor, Heather Knight, and Natalie Sciver, who scored 85 runs in the first innings.
“My role was to give early breakthroughs. I was able to hit the right areas and waited for the batters to make mistakes. When you're bowling in a Powerplay, then you need to have a second plan. Can't just use one stock ball, so was just trying to enjoy the bowling,” Goswami said after the match, reported News18.
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