India captain Mithali Raj was frank in her admission that team’s bowling is a huge concern going into the ICC Women’s World Cup after the side’s 63-run defeat in the fourth WODI against New Zealand on Tuesday.
India are now 0-4 down in the five-match series and Mithali’s bowling attack has failed to defend 270 and 279 in the second and third games.
Mithali Raj
The team also failed to chase 276 in the opening game and a mammoth 192 in 20 overs in the fourth game.
“Definitely, [we] have been trying a few combinations with the seam and spin attack. Bowling attack is a concern going into the World Cup,” Mithali said at post-match presentation ceremony.
‘Richa is India’s future’
“We are adapting to the conditions and to the open ground, and the breeze. We have not been very consistent in our bowling spells. I was just looking at Richa’s shots and she is a talented and exciting player for the future for India,” Mithali added.
The game became a glorified ‘T20’ due to rain as Amelia Kerr stole the show with a 33-ball-68 which took New Zealand to 191 for five.
Amelia then mopped up the tail with 3-30 as India managed only 128 before being all-out in 17.5 overs.
Teenager Richa Ghosh’s counter-attacking 52 off 29 balls was the only silver lining in an otherwise disastrous performance which has now led to five defeats on this tour including the one-off T20.
The bowling performance of the Indians seemed to have nose-dived with each passing game and it was the worst on Tuesday where only Rajeshwari Gayakwad (4-0-26-1) looked the part. Meghna Singh (1-45 in 4 overs) and Deepti Sharma (1-49 in 4 overs) were two bowlers taken to the cleaners by Amelia, who had 11 fours and a six in her kitty. NZ started on a rousing note with a 53-run opening stand between Sophie Devine (32 of 24 balls) and Suzie Bates (41 off 26 balls).
Amelia, Amy on fire
Once the platform was laid, Amelia and Amy Satterthwaite (32 off 16 balls) literally pummelled the Indian bowling.
Smriti Mandhana, very understandably, was out of rhythm after a long quarantine and youngsters Shafali Verma (0) and Yastika Bhatia (0) were out in quick succession. The match was as good as over by the fifth over when India were reduced to 19-4.
Brief scores
NZ 191-5 in 20 overs (A Kerr 68*, S Bates 41; R Singh 2-33) beat India 128 all out in 17.5 overs (R Ghosh 52, M Raj 30; H Jansen 3-32) by 63 runs
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