Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 19 (ANI): India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was left visibly dejected after her crew suffered a heartbreaking four-run loss to England in Indore on Sunday, a end result that noticed England guide their place within the semi-finals of the ICC Ladies’s World Cup. Regardless of placing up a spirited battle, India fell brief within the last overs, marking their third consecutive defeat within the match.
Talking after the match, Harmanpreet admitted that it was painful to see her crew fall simply brief after placing in a lot effort.
‘Smriti’s (Mandhana) wicket was the turning level for us. Nonetheless had batters, however I do not understand how issues went the opposite manner. Credit score to England. They did not lose hope, they stored bowling and getting wickets. It is a dangerous feeling when you’ve put a lot arduous work in however the final 5-6 overs did not go in accordance with the plan,’ Harmanpreet stated, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
‘It is a heartbreaking second. We’re taking part in good cricket, we aren’t giving up, however must cross the road. It has been the final three video games the place we confirmed up with good cricket, however ended up on shedding facet. Subsequent recreation is essential. Our bowlers did a extremely good job, as a result of when Heather (Knight) was batting they had been wanting superb. Did rather a lot proper, however final 5 overs, we have now to rethink. Subsequent recreation (towards New Zealand) is essential,’ the skipper added.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt held their nerve within the tense end to seal their place within the knockouts.
Sciver-Brunt stated, ‘So, so pleased. Everybody simply confirmed how calm they had been and had been actually clear in what they needed to do. In bowling innings, we needed to stick in. A partnership clearly occurred with Harman and Smriti and so they seemed like they had been going to chase it simple. However we knew if we obtained a wicket, we may placed on the stress…’
‘Fielding is one thing we have spoken about earlier than the sport – have not been examined in direction of the tip of the innings with the ball. Needed to be prepared for that, however everybody got here in with sensible plans and executed brilliantly. Linsey was at all times going to bowl her final over, hopefully she may kill the sport, and he or she did,’ she famous.
‘Heather’s innings was particular, her use of sweeps and reverse-sweeps was sensible. We tousled the final five-six overs however essential runs from Charlie. Australia, one to stay up for, and get into the battle. So pleased to get the qualification however wish to take some confidence into the knock-outs,’ she added.
England all-rounder Heather Knight was named Participant of the Match for her sensible 109 off 91 balls, she smashed fifteen boundaries and one most, and likewise performed her three hundredth worldwide match.
‘Actually happy, good to get circumstances conducive to batting,’ Knight stated.
‘Felt we would have liked 300, annoyed with how I obtained out, and 300 caps, a giant event. A tiny bit sluggish at the beginning, however extra boundary choices, I used to be free to play reverse-sweeps. Happy with a match-defining innings. There was a niche so any nudge on it was away to the boundary sq. of the wicket,’ she added.
Reflecting on her function within the facet, Knight added, ‘Again within the ranks is totally different, having duty was good for me, nevertheless it’s a barely totally different function now. Australia are a high quality crew — a very good likelihood to check ourselves towards one of the best on the earth now that we have certified.’
With the win, England grew to become the third crew to seal a semi-final spot.
Coming to the match, India, chasing 289, seemed in serious trouble early on at 42/2, then Mandhana and Harmanpreet steadied the ship with a powerful 125-run partnership. The pair performed with grit and authority, taking the assault to the English bowlers and giving India actual hope.
Their stand was the very best for India in a World Cup run-chase, surpassing the 108-run partnership between Mandhana and Mithali Raj towards the West Indies in Taunton again in 2017.
Harmanpreet, who had endured a lean run within the match to this point, seemed again to her finest. She scored a fluent 70 off 70 balls, hitting 10 boundaries, earlier than being dismissed by her English counterpart Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The India skipper now has 1,017 runs in 31 World Cup matches at a formidable common of 46.22, with three centuries and 5 fifties, making her the seventh-highest run-getter within the match’s historical past. Towards England in ODIs, she boasts 1,025 runs in 28 matches at a median of 46.59, together with three tons and 6 fifties.
After her dismissal, Mandhana discovered an in a position associate in Deepti Sharma, who continued her advantageous all-round type. The duo added 67 runs, preserving India properly within the hunt.
Mandhana was at her elegant finest, scoring 88 off 94 balls with eight boundaries, earlier than being caught off Linsey Smith. Her wicket turned the tide; India nonetheless had it underneath management as they wanted 55 runs off 52 deliveries when she walked again.
Richa Ghosh tried to inject some momentum however fell for 8, leaving India at 256/6 in 45.4 overs. Quickly, after Ghosh’s wicket, Deepti seemed to take cost however mistimed a giant shot off Sophie Ecclestone, discovering Sophia Dunkley within the deep. That dismissal left India needing 27 off 19 balls, a goal that slipped out of attain because the decrease order faltered underneath stress, resulting in India’s third consecutive defeat within the competitors. They completed at 284/6.
Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the entrance for England, taking 2/47 in her eight overs. Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone chipped in with a wicket apiece as England held their nerve within the closing levels to seal a dramatic win and guide their spot within the final 4. (ANI)
