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

India Women beat South Africa 3-1 to win the T20 series

Another great day for Indian cricket was witnessed on Saturday, when, both, the men’s team and women’s team clinched T20 series victory against South Africa in their own backyard. Harmanpreet Kaur-led side won the series the five match series 3-1, with one match abandoned due to rain.

On Saturday at Cape Town, batting first, India posted a strong total of 166-4 in their full quota of 20 overs. It was again the veteran batswoman Mithali Raj who provided a solid start to the team with an aggressive knock of 62 that was laced with eight boundaries and a six. 17-year old Jemimah Rodrigues played with a lot of maturity and steadied the Indian batting ship with a useful knock of 44, after India suffered an early blow in the form of Smriti Mandhana (13). Towards the end, the skipper played an unbeaten cameo and scored a quickfire 27 off 17 balls, hitting one boundary and two sixes. Khaka and Ismail picked up one wicket apiece and Kapp accounted for one run out and a wicket.

Chasing 167 was not going to be easy and it did no good to the hosts when they lost their top three batswomen inside six overs. Tryon (25) and Kapp (27) tried to consolidate the innings but could not find able allies to take their side to victory. The otherwise spin dominated Indian bowling attack found a pleasant surprise in the form of medium pacer Rumeli Dhar (3-26), who was the wrecker-in-chief. Shikha Pandey and Rajeshwari Gayakwad also scalped three wickets and crushed the South African batting line-up. The Proteas were bowled out for 112 in 18 overs, thus handing a 54-run win to India.

Source:Hindustan Times

Smriti and Mithali steer India to a 9-wicket win against Proteas

Winning the first T20 with utmost comfort, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian side looked invincible in the second of the five T20s that was played at Buffalo Park on Friday. Chasing a modest total of 143, openers Mithali Raj (76 not out) and Smriti Mandhana (52) provided a dream start to the visitors. The opening partnership of 106 runs that came off just 14.2 overs set the tone for the run chase. Raj and Mandhana hit boundaries at will and their running between the wickets ensured that the South African bowlers had to make necessary adjustments with their line and lengths to bowl to the left hand – right hand combination. In the end, India cruised to an easy win by nine wickets and chased down the target with five balls to spare. Mithali Raj was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

Putting the Proteas to bat first, the Indians restricted the hosts to a humble 142-7 in 20 overs. The spin twins in the form of Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav were the pick of the bowlers accounting for two wickets apiece. Sune Luus (33) looked solid but failed to find an able ally to take the home team to a commanding total.

With India leading the five match T20 series 2-0, the Women in Blue will look to wrap up the series when they meet van Niekerk-led South African team in the next fixture on Sunday at Johannesburg. 

Source: Indiatimes.com