ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 | India lose two in a row; make life difficult in league table

India lost their second straight match in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 to put themselves in a precarious position in the points table on Saturday, 19 April.

Eden Park in Auckland produce yet another final over thriller - something that is turning out to be a common occurrence in this year’s World Cup. Mithali Raj’s women were undone strong performances in the Australian batting line-up who won the game with 6 wickets in hand and three balls remaining. India currently have four points from their five matches, and just about hanging by the thread in the fourth spot in the points table. 

Tomorrow’s game between England and New Zealand will have anxious Indian eyes on them, given the result of the game might end up deciding their fate in the tournament.

India’s opening issues

Coming into this game against a strong Australia side, India knew that they had to put up big runs if they wanted to win the game. Their hopes of that happening were quashed quite quickly by the 19 year old Darcie Brown who removed Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma inside the first six overs to put India off balance.

That being said, it is not new for India to fail with the opening in this tournament, and Yastika Bhatiya rose to the occasion at one-down steering India clear of trouble. She found support in her captain Mithali Raj as the duo put up 130 runs between them in 154 balls providing India with the stability that they needed. Yastika was the first one to depart after scoring 59 off 83 balls in the 32nd over and Mithali soon followed her in the 38th having made 68 off 96.

Levelling the playing field

At 186/4, India needed that they did not have nearly enough to challenge the long Australian batting order and Harmanpreet Kaur immediately got to work. Two quick wickets fell on the other side while she was aggressing, with Richa Ghosh departing at 8 off 14 and Sneh Rana failing to open her account.

Pooja Vastrakar was the saving grace of the innings, hitting a rapid 34 off 28 helping Harmanpreet salvage the scoring rate.

India were able to put up a decent total of 277 runs in their allotted 50 overs and hoped that they can hang around for a bit and make things difficult for the Aussies.

The unexpected assault

Once Australia came on to bat, they were expected to start cautiously given the way they had hyped India’s new ball attack just a day before the game. But all that turn out to be of no significance as Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy punished India’s wayward lines and brought up a rapid hundred run partnership in the 17th over, battering Rajeshwari Gaikwad for three boundaries. 

Healy made Indian bowlers look like they had no clue what was going on and was on course for a century. Her downfall came in the 20th over off a well connected reverse sweep that went straight to the hands of short third man, letting India take a sigh of deep breath.

The Meg Lanning show

After the prized wicket of Healy, India were able to remove the top scorer of the tournament Rachael Hayness (43 off 53) quick enough to have an impact on the game. Fresh batters were at the crease and this was India’s only chance to get back in the game. 

However, none of that mattered, as Meg Lanning took a liking to Indian bowlers and alongside a struggling Ellyse Perry made the scoreboard tick, putting incredible pressure on the fielding side.

The pair provided a real taste of their fitness, converting ones into twos and two into threes using the pockets of the Auckland ground.

The final turn

Despite Perry’s departure (28 off 51), and a little rain that halted the game for a while, Lanning steered the ship alongside Beth Mooney at a brisk pace, taking the game deep, without any sloppy work.

But just as the games have been in this World Cup, fate found its way and provided India with a last chance to win the game. At 97, with just 8 remaining from the last 9 deliveries, Lanning drove a fuller length ball uppishly to Pooja Vastrakar, standing at backward point. The Indian allrounder did not miss out on the opportunity, and grabbed a very low catch.

With Lanning back in the hut, India knew they had a chance with Tahlia McGrath on strike. A new batter, who needed to score 8 off 8, should have been nervous. And she was, first ball of her innings, she punched to cover, second one, she went very close to the wide line, trying to hit a yorker. 

She missed.

Australia, all of a sudden needed 8 off the final over.

Beth Mooney took strike against Jhulan Goswami in the final over and heaved the first ball over mid wicket for four. Second ball, she tapped to deep cover and induced a mistake from Smriti Mandhana to convert a one into two. The third ball, she hit the full length ball straight over Goswami’s head for another boundary to seal off the game.

Force to reckon with

There is no doubt that Australia are the team to beat in this World Cup, having won 5 straight matches and sealed their place in the semi finals of the tournament. They play their final two matches against South Africa and Bangladesh, of which, they should win at least one of them.

India on the other hand are once again guilty for their method of playing, and their bowling attack that seemed to lack the bite. 

India, now have to make sure they win their remaining matches against South Africa and Bangladesh and hope that New Zealand lose at least one of them, preferably against Pakistan.

Eyes would be glued to the TV sets for the next couple of weeks for the fans of women’s cricket, and it should for the value that it has brought to the world of sports. Three teams, vying for just one spot for the semi-finals position with more than a week of the tournament remaining? It surely doesn’t quite get better than that.