Pathetic catching and wretched ground fielding against NZ have possibly cost the Indian women a place in the ICC Women's World Cup final
Pathetic catching and wretched ground fielding against NZ have possibly cost the Indian women a place in the ICC Women's World Cup final
Pathetic catching and wretched ground fielding in what was virtually a Women's World Cup semi-final at the North Sydney Oval yesterday have possibly cost the Indian women a place in the final.
The score-card records a five wicket victory for New Zealand but, in the ultimate analysis, the margin flatters the Kiwi women since the difference in the quality of cricket served up by the protagonists was nowhere near as wide as the result suggests.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, India scored 207 off 49.4 overs.
u00a0The New Zealanders bowled a nagging tight length but were wayward as regards direction and conceded as many as 21 wides. However, they more than compensated for this waywardness with brilliant attacking fielding, clean pick-ups and strong, accurate throw-ins which put pressure on the Indian batsmen, three of whom were run out.
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India batted tentatively at the start and lost opener Anagha Deshpande (8) and Priyanka Roy (3) for 26 in 8.3 overs before Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj, ranked number two batsman in the world behind England's Charlotte Edwards, ICC Player of the Year in 2007, steadied the ship somewhat.
Rumeli Dhar (5) and Jhulan Goswami (4) then fell cheaply even as Anjum Chopra, who was dropped by Lucy Doolan on 15 at mid-wicket, batted elegantly before falling leg-before to right arm off spin bowler Aimee Mason.
At the other end, Reema Malhotra, who struck eight sweetly timed fours in her unbeaten 59, helped push the Indian score past the psychological 200-run barrier, in association withu00a0 Amita Sharma (14) and Hamanpreet Kaur (13).
For New Zealand, Sophie Devine took two wickets for 35 and Kate Pulford two for 38.
Pulford (71), adjudged Player of the Day, and Haidee Tiffen (23) got New Zealand off to a flying start in 17.5 overs before Tiffen was claimed leg-before by Sravanthi Krishnamurthy.
Pulford stroked sweetly (she had 10 fours in her 71) but was lucky to be dropped by Mithali Raj at first slip before India struck back and claimed the wickets of Amy Satterthwaite (12) and Sara McGlashan (11) to raise a glimmer of hope.
But shoddy ground fielding and another dropped critical catch by Mithali Raj this time offered by Aimee Mason, who defied the rampaging Indian bowlers to score 23 at the mid-wicket fence, (it popped out of her hands over the ropes for six) saw the Kiwis home.
Curiously captain Jhulan Goswami, the pace spearhead, bowled only six overs.u00a0
Right arm leg break bowler Priyanka Roy claimed two wickets for 50 in her 10 overs, slow left arm orthodox spinner Gouhar Sultana one for 32 in 10 and Rumeli Dhar and Sravanthi Krishnamurthy one apiece.
It must be recorded that the two catches by Amita Sharma, when India were fighting back, were brilliant. Her diving dismissal of Satterthwaite at mid-off was the catch of the tournament, with the one at cover point that accounted for Mason, almost as athletic.
The victory over India has virtually ensured New Zealand a place in the final against England, who are favourites to win the title on the basis of their outstanding performances in the tournament.
After yesterday's play in the Super Sixes at the end of four matches each, England (net run rate: +1.7700) head the table with eight points, followed by New Zealand who have six with a net run rate of -0.1893.
India (+0.0279) and pre-tournament favourites Australia are joint third with four points each but the hosts have a superior net run rate of +0.9100.
Only a providential turn of events in tomorrow's matches can enable Jhulan Goswami's Indian team reach the final and fulfil their ambition of emulating Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men's team's ICC Twenty20 World Cup victory in 2007 and Virat Kohli's ICC under-19 Cricket World Cup win in Kuala Lumpur six months later.
India play bottom of the table West Indies at the Bankstown Oval tomorrow, while Australia take on England and New Zealand face off against lowly Sri Lanka.
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