When Richa Ghosh walked into bat in Dambulla on Sunday in opposition to the UAE, India’s rating learn 106/4 within the twelfth over. Batting entry level in T20 cricket is among the most crucial tactical facets lately and for India’s sake, the younger wicketkeeper couldn’t have requested for higher timing. Eight overs and a bit left, a strong basis laid regardless of shedding three wickets throughout the powerplay.
And Ghosh made essentially the most of her time within the center, with a blistering 64 off 29 balls, in an innings that was embellished by 12 fours and a six, ending with a shocking strike-rate of 220.68.
That innings was important in powering India to 201/5 – the primary time they crossed 200 in ladies’s T20Is – as they made it two comfy wins out of two to begin their Asia Cup marketing campaign. The defending champions received by 78 runs to again up their thumping win in opposition to Pakistan on Friday.
For her blistering counter-attacking knock of 64* off 29 balls, @13richaghosh is called the Participant of the Match 👏
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— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) July 21, 2024
The spotlight of Ghosh’s knock was her off-side strokeplay. From the second she hit her first 4 of the knock, off the fourth ball she confronted, she saved peppering that facet as UAE bowlers supplied her the width to free her arms persistently. UAE captain Esha Oza was the primary one on the receiving finish, as she floated up a full supply up outdoors off-stump and Ghosh drove it sq. previous the infield. Her second boundary was pure energy, as she muscled a six over additional cowl off Kavisha Egodage within the very subsequent over.
Then got here the fifteenth over the place she stepped up one other gear and Oza was the bowler who she went after once more. First ball, a sq. reduce previous short-third as she picked up the size rapidly to play off the again foot regardless of the ball being full. Subsequent ball, barely fuller, and was met with a serene cowl drive. Ghosh made it a hat-trick of fours with a uncommon shot on the leg facet as she pulled a brief ball previous square-leg, however completed the over with a fourth boundary, as soon as extra slicing previous level.
Whereas India have been already heading in the right direction for what would have been a par rating, with Harmanpreet Kaur going regular at one finish, Ghosh turned the warmth on UAE and so they discovered no solutions. Ghosh is thought for her power-hitting, however this innings was rapidly growing into one full of elegant photographs that have been extra about timing and placement.
Within the final over bowled by left-arm spinner Heena Hotchandani, Ghosh was maybe responsible of working her captain out on the non-striker’s finish as Harmanpreet’s knock of 66 (47 balls) got here to an finish simply as she had discovered her fifth gear. However Ghosh didn’t let that have an effect on her rhythm as she smashed the remaining 5 deliveries for fours, taking India to their highest complete on this format. She most well-liked the off-side a lot that one of many 5 fours within the twentieth over was a reverse sweep, as she picked up a supply from nearly outdoors leg stump and despatched it flying previous level.
2⃣ wins in 2⃣ Matches 🙌
One other medical efficiency, one other complete victory for #TeamIndia as they beat the United Arab Emirates by 78 runs 👌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/fnyeHav1sS#WomensAsiaCup2024 | #ACC | #INDvUAE
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— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) July 21, 2024
In the long run, 11 of her 13 boundaries got here by way of the off-side. Indian batters basically most well-liked the leg-side in the course of the match – what with Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet each closely preferring that facet of the pitch. Out of their complete of 201, Indian batters scored 83 runs by way of the off-side. And Ghosh alone scored 48 of these (57.8%).
Oza finally led UAE to a creditable complete however the run-chase was by no means actually on as India restricted their opponents to 123/7.
“When Jemi and I have been batting, we have been seeking to run laborious reasonably than enjoying dangerous photographs as we had misplaced three early wickets,” Harmanpreet – who grew to become the format’s second main run-getter on Sunday – stated after the match. “We have been nonetheless concentrating on round 7 or 8 runs an over. When Richa got here I informed her to maintain watching the ball and she or he batted superbly. My function was to remain on the pitch and hold rotating the strike. We had a superb partnership, particularly with Richa and all of the credit score goes to her for our large complete.”
Maiden T20I Fifty for Richa Ghosh! 👌👌
This has been an entertaining knock from the #TeamIndia wicketkeeper-batter 👏👏
Comply with The Match ▶️ https://t.co/fnyeHavziq#WomensAsiaCup2024 | #ACC | #INDvUAE | @13richaghosh
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— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) July 21, 2024
Having not batted within the current T20I sequence at dwelling in opposition to South Africa after struggling a concussion whereas conserving within the first match, Richa returned to the XI with a bang. It was a well timed reminder of her X-Issue ending abilities in India’s middle-order that they’ve craved for sometimes up to now.
Temporary scores: India 201/5 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet 66, Ghosh 64 not out, Egodage 2/36) bt UAE 123/7 (Egodage 40, Ozra 36, Deepti 2/23) by 78 runs.