It was a comeback and a half for Mithali Raj’s girls as the Indian women’s cricket team left behind the horrors of the New Zealand game and their batters put on a show at Seddon Park in Hamilton in their third game of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 against the West Indies on Saturday.
Opener Smriti Mandhana started it and the vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur finished it as the two star batters for the Indian team were involved in a record 184-run stand on Saturday. Following the left-hander Mandhana, Harmanpreet brought up her 4th ODI century as the two helped India post a score way beyond 300.
Kaur wasn’t in great form coming into the World Cup and her place came under the scanner because of the lean patch but she justified her place in the side in the first warm-up game against South Africa with a fabulous ton. However, the shades of the old Kaur were on full display in the last two games.
Kaur’s valiant effort in the last game against New Zealand went in vain as the Women in Blue were handed a 62-run defeat by the Sophie Devine-led side. Kaur fought a lone battle with an astonishing knock of 71 runs off just 63 balls, but didn’t get enough support from the other end.
However, against West Indies, she made sure to take India to the safer shores, with support from Mandhana at the other end.
Coming in at No. 5 when India had lost both Deepti Sharma and skipper Mithali Raj in quick succession, Kaur built the innings with Mandhana, with an occasional boundary here and there. The two focussed mainly on rotating the strike and didn’t let the dot balls pile up.
After Mandhana brought up her fifty and Kaur also reached the 40s, the duo started to play their shots and didn’t let Windies bowlers have a say at all. Mandhana brought up her 5th ODI century and played some lovely shots, especially the six over long-on before getting dismissed for 123.
Kaur then took over and was at the centre stage now as she now led the run-scoring after the left-hander got out. The 33-year old smashed 10 fours and a couple of sixes as she notched up a second World Cup century.
India’s vice-captain couldn’t stay till the end but her 109-run knock and a 184-run partnership with Mandhana ensured the Women in Blue got to a string score of 317 runs in their 50 overs.
