ICC Women’s World Cup starts June 24

On June 18, the feelings were mixed and the pendulum of emotions of Indian folks was swinging in full force. Cricket enthusiasts were shattered as the Men in Blue succumbed to arch-rivals Pakistan’s prolific performance in the final of ICC Champions Trophy. On the other hand, the Indian Hockey Team and Srikanth Kidambi were the reasons to celebrate, as the former clinically defeated Pakistan in the semi- final of World hockey League and the latter emerged victorious in the final match of Indonesian Open.

It seems like the month of June has been an eventful one for the world of sports. But let me tell you, that it’s still not over. Picture to abhi baaki hai. The ICC Women’s World Cup is all set to kick start on June 24 in England and the Indian women’s cricket team led by Mithali Raj looks focused and determined to take on any side.

The Women in Blue has a perfect blend of experience and youth and is believed to flourish under the able aegis of skipper Raj. The WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League) experience that was played in Australia early this year, will come in handy for Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. Opening bat Punam Raut has picked up form at the very right time and the team will expect a solid start from her. India’s ace pace bowler Jhulan Goswami will lead the bowling attack and the spin trio of Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad will look to make the most of the opportunity.

India will take on hosts on June 24 at County Ground, Derby.   

India squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Punam Raut, Deepti Sharma, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Sushma Verma, Mansi Joshi, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Nuzhat Parveen, Smriti Mandhana.

Source: Cricket Country

Indian Women's squad announced for ICC World Cup 2017; WC begins June 24 in England and Wales

The Indian women’s cricket made a lot of noise on May 14, when the opening duo of Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut was involved in record breaking partnership of 320 runs at Potchefstroom, South Africa. ICC Women’s World Cup is just a month away and the team couldn’t have asked for a better form than what they are enjoying currently.

Smriti Mandhana has made her way back to the Indian team after recuperating from knee injury. Captain Mithali Raj will hope that both, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, are able to capitalize on the experience that they garnered from Women’s Big Bash League that was played in Australia, early this year.

The team boasts of leading wicket-taker in women’s ODI history; Jhulan Goswami as well as second highest run scorer in the world; Mithali Raj. The infusion of young blood in the form of Veda Krishnamurthy, Ekta Bisht and Shikha Pandey, to name a few, makes the Indian team a complete package filled with youth and experience.

India’s track record in the ICC World Cup has been a decent one. The team secured the runner-up position in 2005 losing to Australia. They have also been semi-finalists on three other occasions; 1997, 2000 and 2009.

Squad: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Poonam Raut, Deepti Sharma, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Sushma Verma (wk), Mansi Joshi, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Nuzhat Parveen, Smriti Mandhana

Source: Wikipedia

India eves continue the winning streak; defeat South Africa by seven wickets

On Tuesday, India's former captain Jhulan Goswami picked up 3-20 in her spell of 7.3 overs against South Africa at Potchefstroom, to become the leading wicket-taken in women's ODI cricket with a tally of 181 victims. Shikha Pandey too joined the party scalping 3-22 in her 7 overs. The hosts were bundled out for just 119 in 39.3 overs, courtesy India's disciplined bowling attack. Mignon du Preez top scored with 31 and wicket-keeper Trisha Chetty scored 28, to take the hosts over the 100-run mark.

India did not get off to the best of the starts as they lost opening bat Deepti Sharma, in the very first over of the chase. When it looked like Mona Meshram (38) and Poonam Raut (12) were stitching a partnership, Moseline Daniels got the better of Raut to send her back in the hut. Captain Mithali Raj (51*) played yet another useful knock to see her team through alongside her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur (14*). Women in Blue chased down the target in 41.2 overs, winning the match by seven wickets.

Shikha Pandey was announced as the Player of the Match for her splendid bowling efforts.

India has won two out of two games and will take take on Zimbabwe on May 11.

Brief Scores: South Africa Women (M du Preez 31, T Chetty 28; J Goswami 3-20, S Pandey 3-22) lost to India Women (M Raj 51*, M Meshram 38; S Ismail 2-17) by seven wickets

Source: Cricbuzz

India eves thrash Ireland by 10 wickets

In what looked like a lopsided affair, the Women in Blue hammered Irish women by 10 wickets on Sunday at Potchefstroom in a league match of the quadrangular series that is being played in South Africa. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Mithali Raj and co. bundled out Ireland for a dismal 96 in 44.4 overs, thanks to the bowling brilliance of spin queen Ekta Bisht and pacer Deepti Sharma, both, accounting for three wickets apiece. Jennifer Gray top scored with 24 but could not last long as she was unfortunate to be run out by Poonam Raut.

India's opening pair of Deepti Sharma (51*) and Poonam Raut (46*) shouldered the responsibility to see their team through without disturbing the rest of the batting order.

Deepti Sharma was awarded as the Player of the Match for her all-round performance.

India play the next match against the hosts on May 9.

Brief Scores: Ireland Women 96 all out in 44.4 overs (J Gray 24, G Lewis 20; E Bisht 3-24, D Sharma 3-20) lost to India Women 99-0 in 18.4 overs (D Sharma 51*, P Raut 46*) by 10 wickets

Source: Yahoo Cricket

Mithali and Shikha steer India to an easy win against Zimbabwe

The Indian women's cricket team that secretly departed for South Africa on Monday made the perfect start to the quadrangular series by clinically winning the practice match against Zimbabwe at Potchefstroom on Thursday. Amid the tussle between BCCI and ICC, the former failed to make the formal announcement of the team for the tournament that is to be played in South Africa just before the ICC Women's World Cup. Ireland and South Africa are the other two countries playing the series.

Shikha Pandey scalped a five wicket haul and was the wrecker in chief to bundle out Zimbabwe for a dismal 106 in 41 overs. Chipo Mugeri (46) was the only one who made a worthy contribution to the total.

In response, India eves achieved the target quite comfortably winning the match by six wickets, with five balls to spare. Skipper Mithali Raj played a captain's knock by scoring an unbeaten 94 off 87 balls and found an able ally in Jhulan Goswami who muscled a quickfire 54 off 38 balls. Mbofana and Nkomo picked up couple of wickets apiece.

India take on Ireland on May 7 at Potchefstroom.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe Women 106 all out in 41 overs (C Mugeri 46; S Pandey 5-20) lost to India Women 291 all out in 49.5 overs (M Raj 94, J Goswami 54; E Mbofana 2-64, J Nkomo 2-38)

Source: Cricinfo

Countdown begins; ICC Women’s World Cup less than 100 days away

It’s the 11^th edition of ICC Women’s World Cup that will be played on the British soil this English summer starting June 24. The eight teams participating in the mega event are Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The matches will be played across five gorgeous looking venues; Bristol, Derby, Leicester, Taunton and Lord’s. The hosts will take on India in the opening match at The Country Ground, Derby. The grand finale will be played on July 23 at the Mecca of Cricket; Lord’s.

Here is the schedule of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017: https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/345520

Source: ICC

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