India skipper Harmanpreet says Colombo pitch wasn’t “easy to bat on”; points out areas for improvement
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India’s women’s team secured a convincing 88‑run win over Pakistan in Colombo, marking India’s second straight victory at the Women’s World Cup. The match was a highlight in the compact tournament, and India’s skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, expressed her delight at the result.
After a shaky start, India found momentum when Richa Ghosh added 35 runs off just 20 balls. Her aggressive strokes helped the team finish with a competitive 247 from 50 overs, after the team was trapped at 203 for 7 at one point. Earlier in the innings, Pratika Rawal (31), Harleen Deol (46) and Jemimah Rodrigues (32) kept the scoreboard ticking, setting the platform for Ghosh’s cameo.
Pakistan’s bowling saw a bright spot in Kranti Gaud, the 22‑year‑old pacer who took 3 for 20, claiming the wickets of Sadaf Shamas and Aliya Riyaz early on. Her spell put Pakistan on the back foot and helped India clinch the win.
The pitch in Sri Lanka proved tricky for the batters. Kaur noted that the conditions had changed after rain in the past days, but the focus was to keep wickets down and run out the best runs without losing touch. “We had to batter longer and see how many runs we could get,” she said after the match.
While Ghosh was a hero with bat, the team’s fielding fell short. She dropped four catches and made a couple of judgmental errors in the DRS system. Earlier in the series, a similar misplay cost her opportunities against Australia. Kaur’s comments highlight the need for sharper fielding before the next group matches against South Africa and Australia.
“We let ourselves down on the field,” Kaur said. “There were many chances we dropped, but in the end, we win, and that feels good. We’re happy with the momentum, and we’ll build on it.”
Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, accepted the loss but remained optimistic about future performances. She attributed Pakistan’s loss to conceding too many runs early and in the death overs. “If we had contained them below 200, it would have been a good total for us,” she said. She also praised her team’s top‑order batters but urged them to improve long partnerships.
India’s win over Pakistan keeps the Sri Lankan squad looking competitive and brings them one step closer to the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup in Colombo.
Source: aninews
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