 "Harmanpreet blasts batters after India suffer first defeat of ICC Women's World Cup: 'We didn't take responsibility'")
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur slammed the batting lineup, especially the top-order after India suffered a three-wicket defeat against South Africa, their first of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup, in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The Indians were off to a positive start and were eyeing a strong total on the board at 83/1 in the 17th over.
The Indians, however, suffered a third batting collapse in as many games with the middle-order collapsing like a house of cards as the tournament co-hosts lost five wickets for just 19 runs to get reduced to 102/6.
“We didn’t take the responsibility as a top-order. We have to change things. We have to get the good totals. It is a long tournament. It was a tough game, but (there are) lots of learnings. We need to keep ourselves in the positive frame (of mind),” Harmanpreet said after the match.
“(It was a) tough game. Both teams played really well. Even though we collapsed while batting but we still managed to put 250 on the board. In the end, Chloe and de Klerk batted, they showed it was a very good pitch and they deserved to win with the way they batted," she continued.
Harmanpreet praises ‘outstanding’ Ghosh
Had it not been for wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh's brilliant 94 off 77 deliveries and her crucial partnerships with Sneh Rana (33) and Amanjot Kaur (13), the Women in Blue would have fallen well short of the 251 that they eventually managed.
Young opener Pratika Rawal too chipped in with a 56-ball 37, but senior batters Smriti Mandhana (23) and Harmanpreet (9) once again failed to fire with the bat.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Richa has been outstanding for us. Today we were very pleased too see Richa’s hitting. She can get the big totals. Hope she continues,” the captain added.
Ghosh’s superb knock was later overshadowed by all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, who had denied her a century in the final over of the Indian innings and later smashed an unbeaten 84 off 54 deliveries that helped the Proteas chase down the 252-run target with seven balls to spare.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt had earlier chipped in with a patient 70 off 111 deliveries, which kept South African hopes alive despite losing wickets early and getting reduced to 58/4 at one stage.
All-rounder Chloe Tryon too scored a crucial 49, forging valuable partnerships with both Wolvaardt and de Klerk that took South Africa past 200 and laid the foundation for a successful chase.
While India suffered first defeat of the tournament after defeating neighbours Sri Lanka and Pakistan, South Africa have pulled off a second consecutive successful chase, having beaten New Zealand by six wickets earlier.
India face defending champions Australia in their next outing on Sunday while South Africa are up against Bangladesh on the following day.
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