Kaur lauds fielders after comprehensive win
Harmanpreet Kaur, the India Women captain, lauded her fielders after her side’s eight-wicket victory over England in the final league match of the Women’s Twenty20 International tri-series in Mumbai on Thursday 29 March.
Victory came as a relief for India, the home side having gone six matches without a win across formats – they lost their three previous matches in the tri-series and were swept 3-0 by Australia in the ODIs before that.
At the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday, however, Smriti Mandhan's unbeaten 41-ball 62 helped India ease to victory after a combined effort from the bowlers bundled England out for 107 in the first innings.
Speaking after the match, Kaur said she was particularly pleased with her side’s display in the field – a problem area for India so far this series. “It was a great effort by us in the field,” she said. “I always enjoy my fielding, but everyone contributed today.”
Asked of the effort from her spinners to shoot England out for a low score, Kaur said she had expected a slow wicket. “We watched the game yesterday (between England and Australia), and realised that the pitch was a lot slower,” she said. “We knew we had to hit lengths as the ball wasn't coming onto the bat easily. When England were batting, the ball wasn't coming on as expected, and we realised that we couldn’t go for big shots. I am very happy with the team's performance.”
Heather Knight, the England captain, blamed the loss on the lack of partnerships from her batsmen in the middle overs. “We talked a lot about it yesterday, about using the Powerplay,” she said. “Danny (Danielle Wyatt) started off really well, but we couldn't carry on from there. The wicket was a little bit slower, but we needed to prolong a few partnerships in the middle overs.”
The off-spinner Anuja Patil finished with 3/21 and was named the Player of the Match. She hoped to continue the form in the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. “Whenever I get a chance I look to contribute to the team's cause and give my hundred percent,” said Patil. “Whether it is T20Is or ODIs, I just look to perform. If I need to get into the ODI side, I need to ensure that I spend more time in the middle.”
