At the start of the Women's Cricket World Cup, the Indian women snagged the attention of not just India but of the entire cricket playing world with their gutsy performance. The fact that the Indian women lost the final match to England would have disappointed many but there were so many positive takeaways:
At the beginning of the series, India comprehensively beat fancied hosts England and also took on rivals Pakistan and beat them to keep their winning streak intact against the neighbour. India beat Australia in a high scoring semi final match.
In spite of a solid start by the English openers, India restricted the team to 228.
The Indian bowlers picked up seven wickets; Jhulan Goswami taking three and Poonam Yadav taking two. While Goswami has been around for a while, there is a new crop of fine young Indian bowlers doing the job as well.
At 191 for 3, India looked set for an easy victory. Opener Punam Raut was very impressive with 86 off 115, Harmanpreet Kaur impressed yet again with her 51 off 80 and Veda Krishnamurthy’s quick 35 off 34 put the Indian women within smelling distance of victory.
The England seamer tore through the Indian lineup starting by pinning Punam Raut leg before wicket and essentially triggering a collapse to claim 6 wickets. In the end it was the English women who managed to keep their nerves better than the Indians.
The Indian women looked good for most of the match until Shrubsole triggered the collapse. It was a good match and a good contest that went down to the wire; not a wishy-washy one sided affair. The Indian women did not seem to be giving up hope.
People were glued to their TVs; at Lord’s it was a sellout crowd turnout. Indians knew who Mithali Raj is, Harmanpreet Kaur became a household name. As a result of India’s run in this world cup, Indian parents will perhaps be urging their daughters right along with their sons to try and make it in cricket.
Those who disparaged women’s cricket will probably not do so again. Some classic cricketing shots on display, the powerful hitting, the committed fielding and the doughty bowling by the Indian women were on display. Though the English women won the cup in the end, the Indian women won hearts!
This was probably the Indian skipper's last World Cup; though at nearly 35 she does envisage playing cricket for a couple of years more. however we have the satisfaction of knowing that after 18 years in the game, Mithali Raj will be leaving Indian women’s cricket in safe hands.
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