Mithali Raj becomes the highest T20I runs scorer for India; all eyes on Women in Blue in the World T20

Mithali Raj's journey from dancing to the tunes of classical music to making the bowlers dance to her tunes has been a phenomenal one. For close to two decades, the Goddess of batting in India has enthralled the cricket enthusiasts, and in the process achieved many a milestone, the latest one being the highest run-getter in T20I for both men and women. In her career spanning 85 matches, the right hand bat has amassed 2283 runs at an average of 37.42, laced with 17 half centuries. Raj standing tall at 35 years of age is just like wine; she is getting better and and better with age.

Born in Rajasthan and playing her cricket for Hyderabad, Mithali is unequivocally a role model for the budding women cricketers. She is the epitome of grace and elegance, and has the ability to mesmerize the audience with her delightful batting. Reading a book before she goes out to bat keeps her calm and allows her to focus on her batting rather than be worried about the external elements. The former India's T20 captain has shown the world that the shortest format of the cricket is not just about power hitting but it a perfect blend of aggression and technical strokeplay.

Mithali's form in the on-going Women's World T20 is outstanding as she has already scored two consecutive half centuries winning the Player of the Match against Pakistan and Ireland. In her glorious international career, Raj has achieved almost everything but not the World Cup. She led her team  to two finals in 2005 and 2017 in the 50-over Women's World Cup but ended up as runners-up on both the instances. The Women's World T20 that is currently being played in the Caribbean is probably the best chance for Mithali to add yet another feather to her cap. India has won three out of three matches in the Group stage so far and has qualified for the semi-finals of the Women's World T20. The batting maestro will look to give her everything to clinch the World Cup.


Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Women's World T20: India race into the semi finals; win three matches on the trot

After completing a hat trick of victories in the Women's World T20, India Women have qualified for the semi-finals alongside Australia from Group B. On Thursday, India got the better off Ireland hammering them by 52 runs. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Ireland restricted India to 145-6 in 20 overs. Right arm medium pacer Kim Garth was the pick of the bowlers accounting for 2-22 in her four overs. For India, it was the veteran Mithali Raj who hit her second consecutive half century leading from the front. Raj (56) and Mandhana (33) stitched a solid partnership of 67 in 10 overs and set the platform. However the middle order failed to click, not allowing the Women in Blue to cross the psychological 150-run mark. The former skipper (2283 runs) is also the leading run scorer in T20I for both men and women and is followed by Rohit Sharma with 2207 runs.

Ireland has never beaten India in World Cup fixtures, so this was the opportunity to create an upset. However, the Irish team was kept within bounds and fell short of 52 runs as they ended their chase with 93-8 in 20 overs. For India, it was again the spinners that came in to party. Left arm spinner Radha Yadav wrecked havoc and finished off her spell with figures of 3-25 and received good support from offie Deepti Sharma who struck with 2-15 in her three overs. Clare Shillington (23) and Isobel Joyce (33) looked solid at the crease, however they could see their side home.

Mithali Raj was awarded as the Player of the Match for her well-made 56 at the top of the order. India take on the mighty Aussies on Saturday. Harmanpreet Kaur and co. will look to fire on all cylinders when they lock horns against the strong Australian side and would strive to maintain their winning record in the group stage. 


Source: Getty

Women's World T20: India Women beat Pakistan by seven wickets to win their second Group stage match

If it was the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur in the first match, then it is the former captain Mithali Raj in the second, who steered India to an easy win against arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday at Providence Stadium, Guyana. Pushing down the 2000+ runs scorer in T20I lower down the order in the first match, Mithali was back to opening the batting in the second game. Raj scored a delightful 56 off just 47 balls, including seven boundaries. An epitome of splendid strokeplay and class, the veteran cricketer took India to a clincical win.

Batting first, Pakistan posted 133-7 in 20 overs, thanks to couple of half centuries by Bismah Maroof (53) and Nida Dar (52) in the middle order. It was again the Indian spinners that came to party, with Dayalan Hemalatha and Poonam Yadav scalping two victims each. Chasing a not so daunting total, India got off to a flyer with an opening stand of 73 in 9.3 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur (14 not out) and Veda Krishnamurthy (8 not out) completed the formalities as the Women in Blue chased down the target in 19 overs, winning the match by seven wickets. Mithali Raj bagged the Player of the Match award for her brilliant batting performance.

India take on Ireland on Thursday in its third Group stage match.

Brief Score: Pakistan Women 133-7 in 20 overs (B Maroof 53, N dar 52; D Hemalatha 2-34, P Yadav 2-22) lost to India Women 137-3 in 19 overs (M Raj 56, S Mandhana 26; N Dar 1-17) by seven wickets   


Source: ICC

Women in Blue celebrate Diwali in the Caribbean;beat New Zealand to kick off Women's World T20 in style

Riding on a scintillating knock of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, the Women in Blue posted a massive total of 194-5 in 20 overs against New Zealand on Friday at Providence Stadium, Guyana. Kaur smashed 103 off 51 at a strike rate of over 200, peppering the boundary rope with seven fours and eight sixes. Harmanpreet became the first Indian Women to score a T20 century. Alongside the skipper, 18-year old Jemimah Rodrigues had a dream start to her debut World Cup match with a delightful 59 off 45. Rodrigues and Kaur stitched a solid partnership of 134 runs in just 76 balls.
The White Ferns had a tough day at work as the Indians were firing on all cylinders. Tahuhu was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand as she got rid off the Indian openers cheaply.

In reply, New Zealand managed to score 160-9 in 20 overs, courtesy Suzie Bates (67 off 50) stellar performance right at the top of the order. Wicket-keeper Katey Martin chipped in with a quickfire 39 off 25, but in the end the White Ferns felt short of 34 runs. Indian spinners dominated the opposition as Dayalan Hemalatha and Poonam Yadav grabbed three wickets apiece. For her match winning knock, Harmanpreet Kaur clinched the Player of the Match trophy. Unequivocally, the Indians outperformed the New Zealanders in all departments and they will definitely look to repeat the feat when they lock horns against their arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday.   

Brief Score: India Women 194-5 in 20 overs (H Kaur 103, J Rodrigues 59; L Tahuhu 2-18) beat New Zealand Women 160-9 in 20 overs (S Bates 67, K Martin 39; D Hemalatha 3-26, P Yadav 3-33) by 34 runs


Source: India Today

Women's World T20: Windies Team Profile

The defending champs Windies will look to retain the T20 World Championship that will be played in their own backyard from November 9 to November 24. The Caribbeans are placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. The hosts will start off their campaign on November 9 when they take on Bangladesh.

Windies Team Profile:

Stafanie Taylor (C) 

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
The skipper of the Windies leads from the front, with both bat and ball, and ofcourse her impeccable leadership. With 20 half centuries in 87 innings and 74 wickets in 68 innings, the right hand bat and right arm off break bowler is definitely a player to watch out for.

Merissa Aguilleira (WK)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

A veteran of the game, Merissa is a right hand opening bat and a wicket-keeper. She is agile behind the stumps and is often involved in setting a strong foundation right at the top of the order.

Shemaine Campbelle

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
This all-rounder from Guyana has already featured in 83 T20I for Windies. The 26 year old is a right hand bat and a right arm medium fast bowler. Campbelle's experiece will come in handy for the Windies going into the T20 World Cup.

Shamilia Connell

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

The 26 year old all-rounder from Barbados is relatively new in the side and will hope to make the most of any opportunity that comes her way. Connell is a right hand bat and right arm fast bowler.

Britney Cooper

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
The Trinidanian is a right hand bat and bowls right arm fast medium occasionally.  Cooper has a highest score of 61 and is capable of playing the big innings in the shortest format.

Deandra Dottin

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

A definite match winner, Deandra Dottin is unequivocally a player to watch out for in this Women's World  T20. Her explots with the bat and her more than handy bowling makes her a vital cog in the Windies wheel. A powerful hitter, Dottin is a colossus in tghe Windies batting line-up. With more than 100 T20I, the 27 year all-rounder will look to repeat the feat what her team achieved in the last edition of Women's World T20.  

Afy Fletcher

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
The leg break bowler from Grenada has featured in 24 T20I so far and has a five wicket haul to her credit. An economy of under six at an average of less than 20, the 31 year old will look to spin the web to catch the opposition's fish.

Sheneta Grimmond

Source: Stabroek News
The 20 year old from Guyana has been picked up for Windies based on her prolific performance at the domestic level.Grimmond will be hopeful of making her debut in the Women's World T20. Sheneta is a right hand bat and a right arm off break bowler.

Chinelle Henry

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
The 23 year old is a newbie in the Windies squad having featured in just seven games. Henry is a right hand bat and a right arm medium fast bowler.

Kycia Knight (WK)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

The wicket-keeper batswoman from Barbados has played 46T20I and has close to 500 runs with one half century. Knight has a safe pair of hands behind the stumps and is an equally reliable batswoman in the Windies batting line-up.

Hayley Matthews

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
The 20 year old is a right hand bat and right arm pff break bowler. Matthews has a total of 34 dismissals in 30 innings with two four wicket hauls at an economy of less than six. She also has three half centuries in 33 innings to her credit.

Natasha McLean (WK)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Averaging close to 25 with the bat in 13 innings, Natasha looks to be a good prospect for the Windies. The 23 year old McLean also keeps wickets which adds to her value as a player in the squad.

Anisa Mohammad

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
With her accurate right arm off breaks, Anisa is a wicket taking bowler for the Windies. She is just 2 games shy of completing a century of T20I appearances. At an economy of 5.5 and an average of 16.4, the Trinidadian has picked up 113 wickets in 95 innings, including four four wicket hauls and three five wicket hauls. Captain Taylor will want Anisa to provide them with regular breakthroughs.

Chedean Nation (WK)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo
The 32 year old from Jamaica has played in 14 T20I so far and will look to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way in the World Cup. She is a right hand bat and a wicket keeper.

Shakera Selman

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Selman is a right hand bat and a right arm medium pace bowler. The 29 year old from Barbados has featured in 64 T20 international games so far and has a bowling economy of less than six runs per over.

Women's World T20: England Team Profile

The England team has fought hard in the Women’s World T20 so far, having won the inaugural tournament in 2009 in their own backyard and ending as runners-up on two instances in 2012 and 2014. Having won the Women’s World Cup in 2017, Heather Knight and co. are expected to repeat their feat in the T20 mega event that will be played in Caribbean this year. England is placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Windies. The English team will play its first game on November 10 against Sri Lanka.

Heather Knight (C)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

The right hand middle order bat is the skipper of the English team. Having featured in 48T20I already, Knight brings with her a bag of experience and is known to lead the English women from the front. The 27 year old bowls occasional off breaks too.

Katherine Brunt

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

One of the veterans of the game, the 33 year old right arm medium fast bowler has featured in 65T20Is so far. An average of 19.91 and an economy of 5.15 makes Brunt one of the best bowlers in the English line-up.

Sophia Dunkley Brown

Source: prideoflions.co.uk

The 20 year old from Surrey is a right hand bat and a leg break bowler. Her bowling has earned her enough praise in her cricketing career so far.

Sophie Ecclestone

Source: Zimbio

Another spinning option that the English team is blessed to have is in the form of Sophie Ecclestone, who bowls slow left arm orthodox. At just 19 years of age, Sophie has made a mark for herself in the English cricket. In 14 fixtures, Ecclestone has scalped 19 wickets and has picked up a four wicket haul in one innings.

Natasha Farrant

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Farrant is a left hand bat and a left arm medium pace bowler. Having featured in 14 international T20 games thus far, Natasha has grabbed 11 wickets at an economy of tad over six runs per over. The 22 year old will look to make the most of any opportunity that comes her way in the upcoming Women's World T20.

Kirstie Gordon

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

A prolific county career of Gordon is rewarded with an international call from the English team. A right hand bat and a slow left arm bowler will look to make her international debut in the Women's World T20 this month. The 21 year old represented Scotland in the 2017 Women's World Cup and was the highest wicket-taker for her side with eight dismissals.

Jenny Gunn

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Fondly called as the "trigger", Gunn is a vital cog in the English women's cricket wheel. Her all-round abilities makes her a formidable part of the side. The 32 year old has already played more than century T20I and is unequivocally the most experienced player in the side. Jenny is a right hand bat and a right arm medium fast bowler. 

Danielle Hazell

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Next to Jenny Gunn is Danielle Hazell when it comes to T20I experience. Hazell has featured in 84T20I and picked up 82 wickets with her off breaks. An economy of under six, Danielle is the go to bowler for the skipper.

Amy Ellen Jones (WK)

Source: ESPn Cricinfo

The wicket-keeper batswoman from West Midlands has a safe pair of hands behind the stumps. She is relatively experienced, having played 24 T20I for England. Catches win matches, so it is important that Jones grabs everything that comes her way.

Natalie Sciver

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Sciver is a prolific all-rounder in the English team. Having scored three half centuries in 47 innings at a strike rate of close to 110, the right hand bat is a solid performer in the middle order. The 26 year old is equally good with the ball  accounting for 41 scalps in 44 innings. 

Linsey Smith

Source: addisarmycricket.co.uk

Just like Kirstie Gordon, Smith is all set to make her international T20 debut in the upcoming Women's World T20. The 23 year old is a southpaw and a slow left arm bowler. Linsey has already played in Kia Super League and will look to give her best at the international level as well.

Anya Shrubsole

Source: ESPn Cricinfo

Shrubsole, a right arm medium pace bowler is one of the most attacking bowlers in women's cricket. Anya has 74 dismissals in 54 innings at a healthy average of 13.81 and an economy of less than six, speaks volumes of her bowling. 

Lauren Winfield (WK)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

Winfield is a wicket-keeper bat having featured in 18T20I. The 28 year old boasts of highest score of 74 and an attacking strike rate of 112.53. 

Danielle Wyatt

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

The English top order right hand bat has close to 1000 T20I runs in 62 innings, with two centuries and three half centuries to her credit. Her off breaks have yielded 46 wickets in 42 innings at an economy of less than six.

Tammy Beaumont (WK)

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

She can open the batting and keep the wickets. In 43 innings, the right hand bat has struck a century and four half centuries. A strike rate of close to 110, Tammy is an aggressive bat right at the top of the order.

Women's World T20: New Zealand Team Profile

The New Zealand team led by Amy Satterthwaite is placed in Group B alongside Australia, India, Ireland, and Pakistan. The Kiwis will face India on the opening day of the Women’s World T20 that kick starts on November 9 in West Indies.

Amy Satterthwaite(C)

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

Hailing from a cricketing family, Amy Satterthwaite is the only women to score four consecutive ODI centuries across two series. Her dominance with the bat is unmatched, and she will be looking to lead her side from the front. The southpaw also bowls occasional right arm off breaks.

Suzie Bates

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

One of the most talked about players in the New Zealand team is the dashing all-rounder from Otago. Her aggressive batting makes her an easy choice in T20s. Add to this her more than handy right arm medium pace and she is the best all-rounder that the Black Caps have.

Bernadine Bezuidenhout

Source:Cricket Australia

The 25-year old right hand bat from Kimberley is one of the upcoming talents in the New Zealand cricket. Bernadine will look to make the most of any opportunity that comes her way in the next month.

Sophie Devine

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

She holds the recording of scoring the fastest T20I 50. Devine just took 18 balls to get her half century against India in Bengaluru. Sophie also bowls right arm medium pace and is indeed an asset to the Kiwis.

KE Ebrahim

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

Ebrahim has already played 37 T20I and picked up 22 wickets with her right arm medium pace. She will want to use her experience going into the Women’s World T20 next month.

Maddy Green

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

A right hand bat from Auckland, Green has featured in 36T20I. Coming lower down the order this 26 year old is a tall, agile, and a composed all-rounder.

Holly Huddleston

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

A handy middle order bat and a right arm fast medium bowler, Holly will be a part of the Kiwi bowling attack. An economy of under five, Holly is an accurate and attacking pacer, and will look to wreck havoc with the ball.

Hayley Jensen

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

This bowling all-rounder from Christchurch has featured in 18T20I. bowling left arm medium, Jensen gives a variety to the NZ bowling attack.

Leigh Kasperek

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

A right arm off break bowler and a right hand middle order bat, Kasperek has scalped 46 wickets in 27 matches. An economy of 6.01 for an off spinner is incredible.

Amelia Kerr

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

The 18 year old leg spinner from Wellington adds to the spinning flavour of the Kiwi bowling line up. She has played 17T20I and has picked up 13 wickets at an economy of 5.66.

Katey Martin (WK)

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

One of the veterans in the side, the 33 year old keeper batswoman has scored four T20I half centuries in 52 innings played so far. Martin is safe behind the stumps and is a dependable bat in the Kiwi batting line up.

Lea Tahuhu

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

Lea is expected to lead the NZ bowling attack from the front. An economy of under six, Tahuhu is an exciting right arm medium fast bowler. The 28 year old has a decent amount of experience playing T20I having featured in 43 games so far.

Jess Watkin

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

The 20 year old has already taken big strides in T20I cricket. A right hand bat and a right arm off break bowler, Watkin has played six T20I and has a half century to her credit. With the highest score of an unbeaten 77, Jess is a player to watch out for.

Anna Peterson

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

Hailing from Auckland, Anna is a right hand bat and a right arm off break bowler. The 28 year old has so far played 24 T20I for NZ.

Hannah Rowe

Source:ESPN Cricinfo

The 22 year old is a right hand bat and a right arm medium pace bowler. With the best bowling figures of 3-18, Rowe is a quality medium pace bowler in the Kiwi bowling line-up.