India Women tour of Sri Lanka: A Quick Recap

Setting their foot on the island country early this month, the Women in Blue relished the Sri Lankan platter served to them. Led by Mithali Raj in the ODIs, the India Women defeated the hosts 2-1 in the three-match ODI series.

Smriti Mandhana (73 not out) and Mansi Joshi (3-16) starred for the visitors in the first ODI, winning the match by nine wickets. Wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia (68) was the vital cog in the batting wheel of India in the second ODI guiding her side to a nail biting 7-run win. The third ODI which was just a matter of academic interest saw the hosts conclude the ODI series on a positive note as they finally managed to register a win. The skippers on either side; Mithali Raj (125) and Chamari Athapaththu (115) scored delightful centuries. The Sri Lanka Women had the last laugh as they crossed the finishing line, winning the game by three wickets.

Sri Lanka was expected to take a leaf out of their third ODI however the fresh looking Indian T20 side led by Harmanpreet Kaur came out all guns blazing. The five-match T20 series concluded in India’s favour; 4-0, with one match being washed out. Thanks to the efforts of Taniya Bhatia (46) and leg spinner Poonam Yadav (4-26), the visitors won the opening T20 by 11 runs.  Rain God played a spoil sport in the second T20, as the match was called off after 7.5 overs of play. The Women in Blue were ruthless in the last three T20s as they handed over big defeats to the hosts. India won by five wickets in the third T20, courtesy the batting brilliance of Jemimah Rodrigues (57). In the fourth T20 as well, Jemimah (52 not out) scored a blissful half century. But the star of the match was all-rounder Anuja Patil, who wrecked havoc with her off-spin grabbing 3-36 and smashing an unbeaten 54 off 42 balls. The Indian skipper gave the perfect ending to the T20 series as she muscled 63 (38), smacking five sixes and three boundaries. Leggie Poonam Yadav led the bowling attack from the front clinching 3-18.

Having won the T20 series convincingly, Harmanpreet Kaur and co. will look to take their form to the Women’s World T20 that is scheduled to be played this year between November 9 and 24 in West Indies.

Source: Sportstarlive

Jhulan Goswami says bye to T20I cricket

India’s veteran pace bowler and indisputably one of the world’s greatest cricketers decided to quit from T20I cricket. Jhulan Goswami, who played, her last T20 against Bangladesh in June 2018 has decided that she will not feature in the World T20 that will be held in West Indies in November this year. However, the former India captain will continue to play the 50-over format. The 35 year old made her T20I debut in 2006 against England, and in her career spanning 12 years has picked up 56 wickets in 68 matches, including a five-wicket haul.  

Source: Firstpost

Women in Blue fail to maintain 100% win record in Asia Cup; Bangladesh win their maiden Asia Cup

The Women’s Asia Cup T20 finally had a new winner in the form of Bangladesh, when the invincible team India was handed a defeat by their neighbours on Sunday at Kuala Lumpur. Winning the Asia Cup six out of six times, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side was the popular choice for clinching the Aia Cup this year as well. However, the dark horse fought hard to grab its maiden Asia Cup.

Electing to bowl first, Bangladesh restricted India to a parsimonious total of 112-9 in 20 overs. Failure of the top order did no good to India. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (56 off 42) led from the front but did not find an able ally. Khadija Tul Kubra and Rumana Ahmed were the pick of the bowlers picking up two wickets apiece.

In reply, India gave a tough fight and took the match all the down to the last ball of the match. Leggie Poonam Yadav was the wrecker-in-chief scalping 4-9 in her four-over spell. However, Bangladesh was determined to win and never let the nerves come in their way. First with the ball and then with the bat, Rumana Ahmed (23 off 22) had a lion’s share in Bangladesh’s win.  

Scorecard: IndW 112-9 in 20 overs (H Kaur 56; K Kubra 2-23, R Ahmed 2-22); lost to Bangladesh 113-7 in 20 overs (N Sultana 27, R Ahmed 23; P Yadav 4-9) by 3 wickets


Source: Indian Express

Women's T20 Asia Cup kick starts on June 3 in Malaysia

Under the able aegis of Asian Cricket Council, the 2018 Women’s T20 Asia Cup will be played in Malaysia from June 3 to June 10 among six teams; India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, and Malaysia. Each team will play every other team and the final match will be played between the top two teams.

India led by T20 sensation Harmanpreet Kaur will lock horns against the hosts on June 3. So far, India has had an envious record at the Asia Cup, winning six out of six Asia Cup tournaments. The Women in Blue will look to continue their winning streak at the Asia Cup this year as well.

The current Indian team has a perfect blend of youth and experience. Veteran players like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami provide solidity to the side and give the young guns like Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma a license to go out on the field and express themselves.

India squad:

Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Anuja Patil, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ekta Bisht, Mona Meshram

The schedule of the 2018 Women’s T20 Asia Cup can be seen on: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/2702/womens-asia-cup-t20-2018/matches

Source: Cricbuzz.com

Women in Blue finally beat England in T20I after 8 years

Riding on Smriti Mandhana’s stroke-filled 62, India Women registered an easy win against England at the CCI on Thursday. This was their first win after eight long years against England. Batting first, England was bundled out for a paltry 107 inside 20 overs. Anuja Patil was the pick of the bowlers picking up 3-21 in 3.5 overs. Opening bat Danielle Wyatt top scored with 31 but could not find an able ally.

Chasing a modest total of 108, India started off, courtesy Smriti Mandhana’s blitzkrieg. Hammering eight boundaries and a six, Mandhana batted till the end to see her team through. English bowlers had an off day at office as they managed to pick up just two wickets. India chased down the target in just 15.4 overs, winning the match by eight wickets.

Though India did not qualify for the tri-series final, the girls will take some confidence from here to the 3- match ODI series that will be played against England in Nagpur starting April 6. 

Source: Cricbuzz   

India's woes against the Aussies continue; lose first T20 by six wickets

Probably a 20 runs short was what Harmanpreet Kaur and co. would have felt at the CCI on Thursday when they took on the mighty Aussies in the first match of the tri-series that includes England as well. Getting off to a flying start, courtesy Smriti Mandhana's eye-popping knock of 67, India would have expected to post a total close to 170. However the middle order collapse was the culprit and the hosts ended up with 152-5 in 20 overs. Perry and Gardner struck with two wickets apiece.

In reply, Meg Lanning and co. looked determined to chase the target. Some shuffle in the batting order did not prove to be a harm as the Aussies comfortably achieved the target with 11 balls to spare and six wickets in hand. Opening bat Beth Mooney top scored with a blistering 45 and was well supported by Elyse Villani (39) and skipper Meg Lanning (35*). Jhulan Goswami made a strong come back after being out of the ODI series, to pick up 3-30 in her spell of four overs.

The second match of the tri-series will be played between the Ashes rivals on Friday at the CCI.

Source: Cricbuzz.com

Aussies thrash India eves by 8 wickets to win the 1st ODI

After a stellar show in South Africa, the Women in Blue made a disappointing start to the three-match ODI series against Australia on Monday at Reliance Stadium, Vadodara. Batting first, the hosts were bundled out for an ordinary total of 200 in 50 overs. India missed the services of veteran players; Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, both of them out due to physical ailments. Medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar top scored with a blistering 51 and stitched a solid partnership with wicket-keeper Sushma Verma (41) to take India to 200. Left arm orthodox Jess Jonassen was the wrecker-in-chief, scalping 4-30 in her 10 overs.

Chasing a relatively paltry score, Meg Lanning-led Aussies looked confident and achieved the target in just 32.1 overs, keeping in hand eight wickets. Opening bat Nicole Boltman muscled an unbeaten power-packed century (100) and was declared as the Player of the Match for her match winning performance. Indian bowlers had an off day at office as they failed to make inroads and trouble the Aussie batswomen.

The second ODI will be played on Thursday at Reliance Stadium, Vadodara.

Source: Getty Images