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With 13 fours and two sixes, Kaur hit 10 hits and two sixes in 107 balls, which was her fourth ton and her first since scoring an unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup. After a crushing 62-run defeat to hosts New Zealand, India’s quest for a batting comeback against West Indies undefeated West Indies in their third league match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at Seddon Park on Saturday. In both the matches, India’s top-order batting did not fire, resulting in a lack of readiness in the first 10 overs.
Now ranked fifth in the points table, India need to correct their mistakes in the upcoming week with matches against defending champions England and six-time winners Australia. But it is easy to say that the West Indies have been the astonishing giant killers of the tournament, beating New Zealand and England by three and seven runs respectively in their first two matches.
Against Pakistan, Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar saved them with a 122-run partnership before India were tied at 114/6. But against New Zealand’s bowling attack, India were never in the hunt to chase down 261 and despite Harmanpreet Kaur scoring 71 off 63 balls, India were eventually all out for 198. The number of dot balls played by India in both the matches is also a concern and means that strike rotation will have to be implemented more, which has not happened.
Smriti Mandhana has not been in her normal stroke-play self in both the matches while it will be a toss-up between struggling Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia to be her partner. Deepti Sharma needs to score more runs at number three, hence the captain is Mithali Raj.
The decision to get the all-left top order without experimenting first in international cricket did not give the desired runs for India.
There is an atmosphere of happiness in the bowling department with Pooja’s pace and Rajeshwari Gaikwad’s left arm spin.
West Indies, on the other hand, are on a roll in the World Cup. Defending scores of 259 and 225 to clinch victories against New Zealand and England mean the Stafanie Taylor-led side is confident in all three departments of the game.
Hayley Mathews, Deandra Dottin, Sheeman Campbell and Anissa Mohamed have been the principal architects of the winning juggernaut for the West Indies.
With West Indies preparing themselves for tough challenges, the road to victory will not be easy for India. For that, they will need their batting to click in unison.
(with agency input)
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