India’s women cricket team has consecutively won the fourth league match of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 against Sri Lanka by seven wickets. While Sri Lanka had successively lost the third match in the tournament. India’s women skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was delighted with the team’s effort at Junction Oval in Melbourne.
As usual, India’s young opener Shafali Verma gave a good start to the team while chasing the target of 114 runs. The teenager might be disappointed as for the second time, in the tournament, she missed a half-century. Shafali scored 47 runs off 34 balls before getting run out. In her innings, she struck seven fours and a huge six which was subsequently her best shot of the innings.
After the match in the presentation ceremony, Harmanpreet praised the 16-year old’s stunt in the tournament. She wants Shafali to continue hitting big shots and help India to achieve success in the coveted event.
“Shafali is someone who loves to play big shots, and we don’t want to stop her. She should continue doing the same and she should continue enjoying her game,” the captain said.
Harmanpreet Kaur on her struggling form:
In the past games, both Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet have failed to score runs. The duo, who are known to hit sixes, have lost the wickets early. Though Mandhana was a bit more successful than the captain. Harmanpreet in the last four games including today’s match has returned with the figure of 2,8,1,15.
However, against Sri Lanka, Kaur was successful in hitting boundaries. She struck two fours and one maximum. Postgame, the captain has promised to give his best in further matches.
“Today I tried to be positive and got a few boundaries. In the upcoming games, I’ll try to give my best.”
Talking about India’s bowling effort, spinner Radha Yadav, who played the second match of the tournament, picked a four-wicket haul, derailing Sri Lanka’s middle order. Rajeshwari Gaekwad picked two wickets while Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma, and Poonam Yadav picked one wicket each.
Meanwhile, the Indian team has entered the semi-finals which will be played on 5th March.