Head coach Amol Muzumdar and captain Harmanpreet Kaur had a bit chuckle once they have been requested in regards to the No 3 place within the Indian batting order on the ICC Ladies’s T20 World Cup.
“I feel the highest six are the most effective within the nation,” Muzumdar mentioned as if he was holding one thing again. “We now have recognized [the No 3] however we are going to reveal that solely earlier than the XI is introduced. No 3 is a particular place, the participant units the sport up.”
It’s been a place the place India have tried just a few choices within the build-up to the World Cup, however within the first official warm-up match earlier than the marquee occasion, there was certainly an attention-grabbing growth. It was Harmanpreet who batted at No 3. It’s nonetheless early days to make a conclusion if that is the revelation that Muzumdar spoke about, however within the quick time period, it didn’t pan out because the skipper was out for 1.
Innings Break!
Half-century from @JemiRodrigues powers #TeamIndia to 141/8 👏
Second innings developing shortly.
Scorecard – https://t.co/IwhrEmF3RI#T20WorldCup | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/jmJqaRv3cB
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) September 29, 2024
Certainly, India’s batting was beneath stress early on after dropping openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana on both aspect of Harmanpreet’s dismissal. Then it was over to Jemimah Rodrigues – with a bit little bit of help from fit-again Yastika Bhatia – to take India to what proved to be a match-winning 141/8. In response, West Indies made 121/8 on the ICC Academy Floor No 2, Dubai on Sunday.
Requested to bat first by Hayley Matthews, India have been decreased to 23/3 inside the Powerplay. That was adopted by a affected person run-a-ball 50-run partnership between Yastika and Jemimah. Whereas the previous couldn’t kick on from there, Jemimah reached her half-century with a hat-trick of fours and completed with a formidable 40-ball 52. There have been no different main contributions, however useful boundaries from Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil on the finish pushed the full previous 140. Matthews was the star with the ball, registering 4/17.
In response, the Windies wanted Matthews to play a giant function with the bat. However Renuka Singh Thakur received the star batter out bowled within the third over. West Indies too misplaced three wickets within the Powerplay, with Pooja Vastrakar persevering with her spectacular current type, ending with 3/20. West Indies additionally rallied with a middle-order partnership however Deepti’s double-wicket 14th over ended any hopes they’d.
Victory by 20 runs in our first warm-up match 🙌
A wonderful bowling efficiency from #TeamIndia restricts West Indies to 121/8 within the 2nd innings 👏👏
Scorecard – https://t.co/IwhrEmFBHg
📸: ICC#T20WorldCup | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/pxFJ1lN9it
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) September 29, 2024
With no official streaming of the warm-up matches, not like the Males’s T20 World Cup, it’s tough to learn an excessive amount of into India’s win. West Indies didn’t have Deandra Dottin batting for them both, however a 20-run win would nonetheless go down as an honest outing for Harmanpreet’s aspect. However the considerations, as they often are, could be across the batting unit. Jemimah’s effort could be pleasing for the aspect as she is sure to play an vital function within the center order.
On Tuesday, they may tackle 2023 runners-up South Africa of their second warm-up match, and India will search for extra contributions from the remainder of the line-up. And it might as soon as once more be price maintaining a tally of who takes up that ‘particular’ No. 3 spot.
Temporary scores: India 141/8 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 52; Hayley Matthews 4/17) beat West Indies 121/8 (Chinelle Henry 59; Pooja Vastrakar 3/20) by 20 runs