Winning is a habit, they say you must truly cultivate. And looking at the Women’s Cricket team’s T20 form, it seems, India is staying true to the adage. No needless chances, no incurring of unduly risks, Harmanpreet Kaur’s T20 unit put another clinical performance in its second Asia Cup T20 contest.
India destroy Thailand
Clearly, the team to beat this Asia Cup for all sub-continental and South Asian sides, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side picked up its second back-to-back win in the ongoing Asia Cup defeating Thailand, after having walloped hosts Malaysia a day earlier.
Even though in being asked to bat first, Indian team observed a rather off day with the bat, the team collecting only a lowly 132 on the board, it never proved easy for Thailand in the end. In registering a 66 run win, Harmanpreet’s girls reduced Thailand to only 66 on the board. Above all, 8 wickets were clinched on a batting-friendly wicket where it seemed captain Harmanpreet’s spinners and those of Deepti Sharma were too much for a frail-looking side to contend with.
Harmanpreet Kaur chips in
What made the biggest highlight of the day was that arguably, among the finest batswomen in the world today- Harmanpreet- was adjudged the player of the match.
It always cuts a brilliant picture to have a leading player in the game as also the captain of the side being selected as the player of a game. And it wasn’t hard to note why such key distinction came to adorn Harmanpreet Kaur. Not only did the batting supremo club 3 sixes on her way to a 17-ball-27, she also contributed with the ball in hand, picking up 3 wickets for 11 off 3 overs, an incredible feat again.
What’s clearly made India the team to beat this tournament is that not only do the batswomen seem in fine touch, Mithali Raj, who contributed with her amazing unbeaten 97, having seemingly inspired the likes of Mona Meshram and Mandhana, both contributing 32 and 29 respectively against Thailand today.
Harmanpreet’s India run over Thailand
Even as India could crawl to a 132 off 20 overs, the top and middle order seemed bold and determined to give the ball a good whack. Impressive quickfire contributions from Anuja Patil’s bat- 22, among the finest spinners in the side helped to move the scoreboard as Harmanpreet bisected fielders for a quick flow of runs on either side.
While the Thai team was good and effective in containing the free flow of runs, Ratanaporn and Wongpaka picking up wickets and delivering dot balls, it was their batting that worried the side the most.
Somehow, as viewers, it wasn’t hard to note that their batting just couldn’t break through. Familiar scorers with the bat, the top order comprising Nattakan, Chaiwai and, Nattaya Boochatham failed to get going today and could provide only 5, 14 and 21 respectively.
Can Thailand’s batswomen pick up form?
While this largely formed the heart of an absurdly small 66 run score, it remains to be seen what the two right-handers- Nattakan and Chaiwai- can bring in the next game?
Slow running between the wickets and the inability to convert the strike also hurt Thailand a great deal in their efforts to curb India, which never quite succeeded.
What lies ahead for India?
Whereas in the Indian contingent, with Harmanpreet now picking up form and Mandhana looking in good touch, should Mithali play in the next game, the Indian batting line-up could once again cause problems for bowlers. Although, on present form, it’s Indias’s bowlers who’ve won them games, contributing just as much as the willow-wielders, the spinners, including Patil and Deepti, exhbiting their fine touch.