Women’s WC IND vs NZ: Mithali Raj says, We need to fire while target 260 runs, but we failed to do it
Women’s WC IND vs NZ: Mithali Raj says, We need to fire while target 260 runs, but we failed to do it
Women’s WC IND vs NZ: Mithali Raj says, We need to fire while target 260 runs, but we failed to do it
Captain Mithali Raj had no hesitation in admitting that the top-order didn’t do well as India didn’t have the “batsmen to take the game deep” in their 62-run loss to New Zealand in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.
India could only manage 198 while chasing a target of 260 against the White Ferns after scoring just 50 runs in 20 overs here on Thursday.
“Our batting, especially the top and middle order, needs to be on fire as other teams are posting 250-260,” Raj said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“We thought it was worth the chase, but provided we have the top order running. But back-to-back wickets put a lot of pressure because we didn’t have a batsman who could deepen it.
“There was bounce and good carry on the surface, but it was not a tough strip to bat on. Their fast bowlers were hitting the right areas with bounce, but it was not impossible and we could have done better.”
ICC Women’s World Cup 2022
Raj has expressed the same concern after India’s win against Pakistan in their first campaign when the lower order made up for the faltering top order.
It was once again an effort for India to bowl according to the captain as they were able to restrict the hosts, who were running towards a colossal total at one point, to 260 for 9.
Raj said, “Our bowlers have done well today and in the past too. We got early wickets, the way they had partnerships, I thought they would get around 270-280. There was a bounce in the second innings and it slowed down,” Raj said.
It was an “absolute performance” for home team captain Sophie Devine.
Devine said, “Really complete performance. We built a full partnership, (Amy) Satterthwaite was excellent, we set the stage and we knew it was a good score.”
She was all praise for the bowlers as they tightened the noose around the Indian top order.
ICC Women’s World Cup 2022
He said, ‘Our bowlers were excellent, they did not give them anything. We have different people at different stages of the game, what we want in the World Cup.
“The girls were excellent today, the pressure was on them to make sure they stand up, (France) McKay (off-spinner) was also excellent. (Lee) Tahuhu had a role in the middle overs that we last saw. year in the UK.”
Devine said she is spoiled for choice with multiple bowling options.
“We have a lot of options to bowl to the spinners now, so it is a really good place. (This World Cup) is an interesting one, the first was a bad game of cricket but we took a lot of positives. We didn’t do our best that day.”