Shantha Rangaswamy becomes the first woman to receive BCCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award

After winning the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2017 last week, Indian women’s cricket is in the news yet again. India’s first ever Test captain of the women’s cricket team was nominated by the BCCI on Monday to receive Col C.K.Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. It will be a special moment in women’s cricket not only because Rangaswamy is the first lady to be bestowed with such a prestigious award but also the very coincidence that, both Rangaswamy and Nayudu were the first Test captains of India. Getting such a kind of recognition from cricket’s apex body in India will certainly embolden girls to play cricket and pursue it as their career.

The former skipper has led India in 12 out of the 16 Tests and 16 out of the 19 ODIs that she played, in her career spanning 15 years. In those days when the monetary benefits for representing Indian women’s team were as meagre as one can think of, it was her passion and love for the sport that helped her to scale such great heights.

The other former players to receive this award were Rajinder Goel (Haryana) and Padmakar Shivalkar (Mumbai) both, having lion’s share in their respective team's success in the domestic circuit.

Source: The Hindu

Chokers choke; Invincible India wins the finale of ICC Women’s WC Qualifiers 2017

Harmanpreet Kaur pulled a rabbit out of her hat when she hit a much needed six off the penultimate ball of the match, to take her team close to the victory. India needed eight runs off two balls with one wicket in hand. The dressing rooms of both the teams were tensed and the players had almost bitten up their nails. It was a cracker of a contest between two of the best teams and the finale at P Sara Oval deserved to go down the wire.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, South Arica posted a commanding 244 on board, with Mignon Du Preez (40) and skipper Dane van Niekerk (37) playing a pivotal part. Left arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad was the pick of the bowlers scalping 3-51 in her none overs and was supported by India’s ace spearhead Shikha Pandey who accounted for 2-41 in her eight.

Chasing 245 runs was not going to be a cakewalk and this was a known fact to the stand-in captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her girls. The absence of India’s most prolific batter Mithali Raj made the target look even more daunting. But it was again the magic of Mona Meshram (59) at the top that made it look easy. Coming in at no.3 Deepti Sharma (71) shouldered the responsibility and stitched a 124-run partnership with Meshram which almost shattered the hopes of Proteas. The match was a roller coaster ride and the fate of the game was not decided till the ultimate ball was bowled. Kaur (41*) played a captain’s knock and with her last couple of balls heroics saw India through. Deepti Sharma was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

Women in Blue remained unbeaten throughout the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2017. The Indian team will hope that they continue this winning streak and take this form to the British soil this English summer.

Brief Scores: South Africa Women 244 all out in 49.4 overs (M du Preez 40, D van Niekerk 37; R Gayakwad 3-51, S Pandey 2-41) lost to India Women 245-9 in 50 overs (D Sharma 71, M Meshram 59; M Kapp, A Khaka) by one wicket

Source: ICC

Seven wins in a row; India eves beat arch rivals Pakistan to remain invincible in ICC Women’s WC Qualifiers

Having already qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 to be played at England and Wales this June, India locked horns against arch rivals Pakistan in the Super Six ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers match which was of just academic importance to the Women in Blue on Sunday at P Sara Oval. Opting to bowl first Mithali Raj led troops reduced Pakistan to a paltry 67 in 43.4 overs, thanks to the spin magic of slow left arm bowler Ekta Bisht who scalped a five wicket haul.  The 31-year old finished off with envious figures of 5-8 in 10 overs. India’s ace spearhead Shikha Pandey struck with 2-9 in her spell of seven overs. Ayesha Zafar (19) and Bismah Maroof (13) were the only to score in double digits.

Mona Meshram (9) who looked prolific in the last couple of matches failed to score big as she was sent back home by the opposition skipper Sana Mir. Deepti Sharma (29*) played with caution and steadied the ship with Harmanpreet Kaur (24) after India lost Devika Vaidya (3) cheaply. Sadia Yousuf managed to pick up two out of three Indian wickets giving away just 19 runs off her eight.

Mithali Raj and her team have clinched seven victories in a row and will hope that they continue the winning streak on the English soil this June.

Brief Scores: Pakistan Women 67 all out in 43.4 overs (A Zafar 19, B Maroof 13; E Bisht 5-8, S Pandey 2-9) lost to India Women 70-3 in 22.3 overs (D Sharma 29*, H Kaur 24; S Yousuf 2-19) by seven wickets

Source: Getty Images

Mona Meshram and Mithali Raj guide India to an easy win against Bangladesh in Super Six of ICC Women’s WC Qualifiers

It was yet again the heroics of Mona Meshram and Mithali Raj that took India home against Bangladesh on Friday at Colombo during the Super Six match of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2017. Putting Bangladesh to bat first, Raj and co. restricted them to an ordinary target of 155-8 in 50 overs. Fargana Hoque scored a patient half century and received good support from Sharmin Akhter who made a rather cautious 35 off 81 balls. Speedster Mansi Joshi was the pick of the bowlers with 3-25 in her economical spell of 10 overs. Devika Vaidya rolled her arm over to grab 2-17 in her seven.

Opening bat Mona Meshram and skipper Mithali Raj started from where they had left in the previous game against South Africa on Wednesday. Their effortless batting was a delightful treat and a solid partnership of 136 runs for the second wicket saw India through. Meshram scored 78 off 92, muscling 12 boundaries and was complimented well by Raj who made an unbeaten 73 off 87 deliveries, smacking 10 boundaries and a six. Khadija Tul Kubra was the only bowler to strike for Bangladesh when she had Deepti Sharma caught and bowled.

Mona Meshram was adjudged as the Player of the Match for her brilliant batting display. India lock horns against arch rivals Pakistan on 19^th February.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh Women 155-8 in 50 overs (F Hoque 50, S Akhter 35; M Joshi 3-25, D Vaidya 2-17) lost to India Women 158-1 in 33.3 overs (M Meshram 78*, M Raj 73*; KT Kubra 1-37) by nine wickets

Source: Getty Images

India Women get the better of Proteas; inch towards sealing a berth in ICC Women’s WC 2017

Opening bat Mona Meshram and India skipper Mithali Raj played some wonderful cricket against South Africa on Wednesday in their first match of Super Six stage of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. Meshram’s patience and Raj’s experience yielded rich dividends and helped India post a respectable total of 205-8 on board in the full quota of 50 overs. South Africa, who did not lose a single match in the Group stage, would have been quite happy with the target. Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka scalped couple of wickets apiece.

Defending 206 was rather tricky and it meant minimizing loose deliveries and maximizing dot balls. India’s ace spearhead Shikha Pandey looked in good shape picking up 4-34 in her spell of 9.4 overs. Slow left arm bowler Ekta Bisht enjoyed bowling to the Proteas and finished off with economical figures of 3-22 in her 10. It looked as if the game was slipping away from India when wicket-keeper 

Trisha Chetty (52) was batting with Marizanne Kapp (29). When Deepti Sharma got rid off Chetty, Mithali and co. could smell victory. India bundled out South Africa for 156, winning the match by 49 runs. Mithali Raj was awarded as the Player of the Match for her match winning knock of 64 runs off 85 balls.

India will take on Bangladesh in its second encounter of the Super Six on 17^th February.

Brief Scores: India Women 205-8 in 50 overs (M Meshram 55, M Raj 64; M Kapp 2-23, A Khaka 2-44) beat South Africa Women 156 all out in 46.4 overs (T Chetty 52, M Kapp 29; S Pandey 4-34, E Bisht 3-22) by 49 runs

Invincible India continue the winning streak; set to play the Super Six of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers starting 15th Feb

It was yet again the magic of Indian spin twins that created havoc for the opposition in ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. Zimbabwe was done and dusted for a paltry score of 60 in 28.5 overs, thanks to some bowling brilliance exhibited by leg spinner Poonam Yadav and slow left arm bowler Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Poonam picked up a fifer (5-19) and made the Zimbabwean batting look out of sorts. She found an able ally in Rajeshwari who scalped 2-18. Musonda was the top scorer for Zimbabwe with 26 runs.

Chasing 61 runs was going to be a cake walk for a strong Indian batting line-up. Women in Blue chased down the target in nine overs, losing just the one wicket of Veda Krishnamurthy (29), who after providing a brisk and solid start fell against the run of play. Mona Meshram (21) and Harmanpreet Kaur (11) saw their team through with unbeaten knocks.  

India has qualified for the Super Six stage that commences on 15^th Feb. The top four teams out of the Super Six will make their way to England to play the ICC Women’s World Cup, starting June26, 2017.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe Women 60 all out in 28.5 overs (MA Musonda 26; P Yadav 5-19, R Gayakwad 2-18) lost to India Women 61-1 in 9 overs (V Krishnamurthy 29, M Meshram 21*; P Marange 1-21) by nine wickets

India eves win three on the trot; make their way to Super Six of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

A dream start was defined perfectly by the Indian openers Deepti Sharma and Thirush Kamini on Friday at P Sara Oval, when the Women in Blue took on Ireland during the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers match. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, both, Sharma and Kamini played some extraordinary cricket, with the latter finishing off with an unbeaten 113, her career best. They stitched a 174-run partnership and helped India post a competitive total of 250-2 in 50 overs.

Chasing a staunch target of 251 runs, Ireland was required to get off to a good start. Unfortunately it was a nightmare for Irish eves as they lost their opening batter – for a duck. Ireland was bundled out for a miserly 125, handing over an easy win to India by 125 runs. Leg spinner Poonam Yadav was the pick of the bowlers picking up 3-30 and was complimented well by the experienced pacer Shikha Pandey who scalped 2-11.

Winning three matches on the trot and securing a berth in the Super Six, table toppers India face off Zimbabwe on 13^th February, a match just of academic importance for India.

Brief Scores: India Women 250-2 in 50 overs (D Sharma 89, T Kamini 113*) beat Ireland Women 125-10 in 49.1 overs (G Lewis 33, I Joyce 31; P Yadav 3-30, S Pandey 2-11) by 125 runs

Women in Blue cruise to an easy win against Thailand in the second match of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

It was a lopsided affair at Colombo, Sri Lanka, when the Asian champions India faced off against Thailand on Wednesday during the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Thailand could not do much with the bat as the team was done and dusted for a paltry 55 in 29.1 overs. It appeared as if the Thai batters were walking on a long banana skin. The 23-year old Mansi Joshi was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 3-4 in her five overs. The girl from Punjab found able allies in Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, all of them chipping with two wickets apiece. Nattaya Boochatham and Chanida Sutthiruang were the only two to score in double digits.

It was rather an easy chase for India eves as they raced to the finish line in just 12.4 overs, winning the game comprehensively by nine wickets. Harmanpreet Kar was the only wicket to fall. Thirush Kamini who missed out in the last game against Sri Lanka played a solid knock of 24* (44) and received good support from Veda Krishnamurthy 17* (11).

India will play its next match against Ireland on 10^th February.

Brief Scores: Thailand Women 55-10 in 29.1 overs (C Sutthiruang 12; M Joshi 3-4) lost to India Women 59-1 in 12.4 overs (T Kamini 24*, V Krishnamurthy 17*; S Tippoch 1-16) by 9 wickets

India eves thrash Sri Lanka by 114 runs in the first match of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

Women in Blue amassed a competitive total of 259-4 against Sri Lanka in the first match of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday at Colombo, Sri Lanka. Coming in at no.3, Devika Vaidya played a solid innings of 89(103) and shouldered the responsibility of batting well. The 19 year old then stitched a strong partnership with the skipper Mithali Raj (70 not out) to take India to a commanding position. Udeshika Prabodhani was the pick of the bowlers for the host as she scalped 2-56 in her spell of 10 overs.

Though Sri Lanka got off to a good start, courtesy Chamari Atapattu (30) and Eshani Lokusuriyage (26), the middle order could not capitalize much. It was again the spin duo of Ekta Bisht and Rajeshwari Gayakwad that caught the Inoka Ranaweera-led side in their spin web as they accounted for four wickets between them giving away just 46 runs in 20 overs. Sri Lanka was bundled out for a paltry 145, helping India win by a mammoth margin of 114 runs.

Man of the Match award was conferred on the young and talented batter Devika Vaidya for her brilliant batting. India will play its next match against Thailand on 8^th February.

Brief Scores: India Women 259-4 in 50 overs (D Vaidya 89, M Raj 70; U Prabodhani 2-56) beat Sri Lanka Women 145-8 in 50 overs (H Perera 34, C Atapattu 30; E Bisht 2-27, R Gayakwad 2-19) by 114 runs.