Women’s T20 World Cup: Smriti, Shafali and Shree Charani on song as India makes it two out of two

The two schoolboys hopped on a train from London early in the morning, got off at Leeds, and then took a bus to Headingley. Oscar and Dylan weren’t disappointed, as they got to watch some fascinating cricket at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

They must have liked what they saw from one of their favourite teams: India. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side scored a facile victory against the Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday.

Once India posted 209 for five after losing the toss, the only question was about the margin of the victory. India won in the end by 95 runs.

Though the Netherlands got off to a fine start, with openers Heather Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer adding on 34 in just four overs, it was always going to be a tough ask for a team of part-timers making their World Cup debut, no matter how spirited they are.

Skipper Babette de Leede fought hard again, and was the only batter who lasted more than 20 balls. For India, the young Shree Charani came up with another fine spell, and finished with four for 19. It hasn’t taken her long to look so much at home in international cricket.

There were three wickets for Shafali Verma, who came on to complete the over after Shreyanka Patil had to leave the field, injuring her ankle.

The off-spinner looked in considerable discomfort and there seemed cause for concern for the Indian camp.,

Earlier, he much adored Indian batting blossomed on a hot afternoon.

There were runs for Shafali. And there were more runs for Smriti Mandhana, who made her second successive fifty.

Smriti (74, 47b, 11×4, 1×6) and Shafali (55, 38b, 10×4) got into their act quickly and put on 115 for the first wicket, scoring at about 10 an over. Both played some fine strokes and India should be hoping for more such stuff from them in the matches to come.

Jemimah Rodrigues disappointed her fans in England — there are quite a few — once more and Yastika Bhatia, who came in for Bharti Fulmali, failed, too. But that trusted firm lower down the order, of Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, ensured India would have more than enough runs on the board. Indian batting also benefited from the dropped catches.

Like Australia, the Women in Blue have won both their games. Much tough challenges await them, though.

The Teams

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (w), Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma.

Netherlands: Babette de Leede (c/w), Heather Siegers, Phebe Molkenboer, Sterre Kalis, Robine Rijke, Frederique Overdijk, Iris Zwilling, Myrthe van den Raad, Caroline de Lange, Silver Siegers, Isabel Woning.