FTX by the Numbers: Nail-biters, Hard-Kaur Harmanpreet and a maiden victory
The nail-biters
There have been six close finishes in 14 matches so far. It started with West Indies’ Deandra Dottin, who had not bowled in eight ODIs, defending six runs off the last over against New Zealand in the tournament opener in Mount Maunganui.
For the first time in ODIs, an Australia vs England game produced 600-plus runs with Nat Sciver (109 not out off 85 balls) threatening to overhaul Australia’s total of 310 in Hamilton. But the defending champions fell 12 runs short in the last over.
FTX By the Numbers
England were involved in two more thrillers but remained on losing end on each occasion – despite a ninth wicket stand of 61 between Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone they lost by 7 runs to West Indies in Dunedin and let the game slip against South Africa, who scaled a target of 236 with four balls remaining.
On two occasions, Pakistan came close to register their first World Cup win in 13 years but fell short by 6 runs against South Africa in Mount Maunganui and 9 runs against Bangladesh in Hamilton.
The 2022 event is turning out to be one of the most competitive World Cups ever. For context, the first 14 games in the previous two World Cups in 2017 and 2013 had two thrillers each.
England’s worst run
The defending champions and four-time winners England have had a disappointing start. They lost three games in a row for the first time in the tournament history. Prior to this they had lost two games on the bounce in 1982, 2000 and 2005.
No team in the World Cup history went on to win or play the final after losing the first two games. But that does not mean England’s chances of the finishing in the top four are over. Even if they lose their next game, against India in Mount Maunganui, England will still be mathematically in but for that they will need to win their remaining games and bank on other results.
M13 Match Highlights: South Africa v England
Kapp’s unique feat
With her five wickets for 45 runs against England, South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp became the first player in the World Cup history to have a five-wicket haul and a century under her belt. Her century (102 not out off 150 balls) was against Pakistan in Cuttack in 2013.
Kapp’s five-for against England was her first in ODIs as well as the first by any bowler in World Cup 2022. She played a vital hand with the bat too scoring 32 off 42 in a chase of 236, South Africa’s highest ever in the tournament history and the second highest by any team against England.
It’s hard Kaur
India’s Harmanpreet Kaur who has a history of producing aggressive knocks in World Cup games is now the first batter from India with three centuries in the tournament history.
She achieved that feat with her score of 109 off 107 balls against West Indies in Hamilton. Her previous two centuries were 171 not out off 115 against Australia in Debry in 2017 and 107 not out off 109 against England in Mumbai (Brabourne) in 2013.
Kaur loves playing at the big stage. Three of her four ODI centuries have come in the World Cups. She averages 53.07 in the tournament, much higher than her career average of 53.07.
Of 33 batters with 500 runs in the World Cup, Kaur’s strike-rate 97.12 is the highest for anyone.
In the game against West Indies this tournament, Kaur’s partnership of 184 with Smriti Mandhana, who also scored a century (123 off 119), helped India in reaching three hundred (317) for the first time in World Cup.
The youngest and the oldest
New Zealand’s 17 years old left-arm spinner Fran Jonas is the youngest among 120 players featuring in this World Cup. She played one game against West Indies.
Georgia Plimmer, another Kiwi and the only uncapped ODI player in the tournament, is the second youngest at an age of 18.
India have a good blend of youth and experience in their squad. The third and fourth youngest in the form of Shefali Verma and Richa Ghosh (both 18 years old) and the two oldest players in the tournament Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj (both 39 years) are with India.
Goswami was born 8 days before Mithali in 1982. They are also the only two women in ODI history with a career span of 20plus years.
With four wickets in three games, Goswami is the new leading wicket-taker in the World Cup history. Her tournament tally stands at 40 wickets, one more than Australia’s Lyn Fullston who was holding this record since 1988.
The maiden victory
Bangladesh, who are on World Cup debut, recorded their first win when they got the better of Pakistan by 9 runs in Hamilton.
In 42nd over into the chase of 235, Pakistan were 183-2 when Fahima Khatun’s three wickets spell triggered a batting collapse and restricted the opponents to 225-9 in 50 overs. Fahima was named player of the game for her match-winning performance.
The result means each of the 16 teams who have played in the Women’s World Cup has at least one victory in their record.