India remain unbeaten at the ICC Women’s World T20 and made their biggest mark at the tournament with a convincing 48-run win over Australia.
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Jemimah Rodrigues emphasised it was important India kept on improving at the ICC Women’s World T20.
India have produced four wins in four matches at the ICC Women’s World T20 which has ensured the Harmanpreet Kaur captained side will finish top of Pool B. The latest showing being a convincing 48-run win over Australia on Saturday with a powerful knock by Smriti Mandhana first before the spinners took over to defend the total without much trouble.
Both India and Australia had already qualified from the group but win for either decided who would get to top the table. And then there is also the matter of bragging rights and remaining unbeaten in the tournament – a key component for such tournament.
Win over three-time champions Australia and one of the contenders will certainly give the team belief. Young Jemimah Rodrigues, however, believes there is room to improve and it is important that the team keeps the momentum going into the semi-finals. “I think it’s important not just because it’s Australia, but for ourselves and our team, because we’ve got the momentum,” said Rodrigues. “So we need to keep that momentum, keep doing the things, don’t focus mainly on the results. So I think it plays a huge impact on our team and I think we look forward to it, but not get carried away and try to do even better in the semi-finals.”
Mandhana, who was having a ‘slow’ tournament until Australia, came to the fore with a brilliant knock of 83 runs from just 55 deliveries, and Harmanpreet chipped in with an explosive 27-ball 43 before the bowlers bowled Australia out for 119. The assault by Harmanpreet reminded those within the team of her 171* against Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup last year. Rodrigues revealed it acts as a confidence booster.
“Yes, (that knock) was definitely discussed (before the match),” revealed Rodrigues. “In our meetings. it’s always good to remember the good stuff we’ve done. And it plays an impact and motivates each other. So we have spoken about that.
“So I think today also Harry [Harmanpreet] di and Smriti, the partnership they had, I think if Harry di would have stayed for longer, we would have remembered a bit of the same one. But I think it was good.”
After scoring 167/8, the bowlers took over and restricted Australia to 119 with Ellyse Perry top-scoring with an unbeaten 39 runs from 28 balls. Anuja Patil led the bowling effort with 3/15 in 3.4 overs and other spinners, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav and Poonam Yadav, also joined the dismantling of one of the most formidable batting line-ups with two wickets each.
“I think we bowled really well. We stuck to our plans, what we decided. And I think more than sticking to the plans the execution was really amazing by the bowlers, and the fielding also proved it. So I think it was a really good one today,” Rodrigues said.
Not just the bowling, India improved on the fielding too which had come under scrutiny after guilt edge chances were let go against Pakistan and Ireland. Jemimah reiterated the focus is on improvement match-by-match.
“I think from the first match to today, we all have seen a lot of improvement in our bowling and in our fielding. Our teammates, everybody, the coaches, the support staff, everybody is putting in a lot of effort, were working really hard and it’s paying off. We just try and get better,” she said.
