After outclassing Pakistan in the first match, India will look to put up a better bowling performance against the West Indies in their second match of the Women’s T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.
Without vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, the Indian batsmen managed to complete their highest successful run chase in the T20 World Cup in a win against Pakistan.
Mandhana missed the match against Pakistan due to a finger injury but the star opener is likely to make a comeback in the team against West Indies, who are coming off a big defeat against England.
The Indian bowlers were blamed for taking their foot off the pedal at the back end of the innings, allowing Pakistan to score 91 runs in the second half of their innings.
They will be inclined to give a better account of themselves. With tougher opposition expected as the tournament progresses, the Indian bowlers couldn’t have asked for a better opponent than a familiar West Indies team, whom India beat twice in the recent tri-series.
If India has to win the title, then the batting department will also have to gear up.
Had it not been for three consecutive fours by young Richa Ghosh in the 18th over, India would not have been able to cross the mark.
Big-hitting Shafali Verma, fresh from leading India to the Under-19 World Cup title, was not at her best against Pakistan. She struggled to hit the big shots.
Yastika Bhatia, who opened the innings in Mandhana’s absence, struggled to find her rhythm while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was also dismissed without much impact.
India would have heaved a sigh of relief that Jemimah Rodrigues, a proven match-winner, hit form after a stellar run as she handled the innings but the middle-order batsman will need to manage her strike rate better and come up with big shots. Will have to be taken.
A key cog in this Indian team’s plan, apart from Mandhana, will no doubt be the batting line-up.
West Indies, on the other hand, will be desperate to register their first win in the tournament after losing to England in their opening match.
The team led by Hayley Mathews is going through a bad phase after losing 14 matches in a row.
They will once again turn to skipper Mathews who has a lot of experience. Captain is no stranger to performing on the big stage.
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However, the skipper needs others to step up, especially the experienced Stafanie Taylor, who is back from a back injury.
It will be a crucial encounter for the West Indies as a defeat will eliminate the former champions from the race for the semi-finals.
Teams (from):
IndiaSquad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Jemima Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarwani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey.
West Indies: Hayley Mathews (C), Shemaine Campbell (VC), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afi Fletcher, Shabika Ghajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Jinaba Joseph, Chadian Nation, Karishma Ramharrek, Shakira Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams.
The match will start at 6.30 pm Indian time.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)