We have quality to turn things around, hopes Anya Shrubsole as England aim to avoid series defeat
Cricket | Feb 24, 2019, 04:41 PM ISTIndia outclassed world champions England by 66 runs in the series opener on Friday.
India outclassed world champions England by 66 runs in the series opener on Friday.
After a mini-collapse, the innings was resurrected by a 54-run stand between Mithali (44) and wicketkeeper Tania (25) for the sixth wicket.
The 33-year-old left arm spinner from Uttar Pradesh, who finished with fine figures of four for 25 against the current world champions, also credited newly-appointed coach WV Raman, for her success.
Batting first, India folded for 202 in 49.4 overs but they returned to dismiss England for 136 to make a winning start to the series.
Earlier this year, it was China that recorded the lowest score against in Women's T20 when UAE bowled them out for just 14 runs.
Opener Smriti Mandhana, who amassed 196 runs including a hundred and a 90 in New Zealand, will be a key player with the bat for the Indian women's team.
Bowling all-rounder Harleen Deol, who plays for Himachal Pradesh in the domestic circuit, is set to replace Harmanpreet in the Mithali Raj-led one-day team.
Mandhana recently scored 196 runs in the three-match ODI series against hosts New Zealand, including a 100 and 90.
Mandhana, asked specifically whether the team was too dependent on her, replied that the perception was not correct.
Mandhana returned as the highest run-getter in the T20 series, amassing 180 runs from three games at an average of 60, including two half-centuries.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose indifferent form has hurt the team, said she was disappointed at the result and the 0-3 series defeat.
Kalpana, who made her ODI debut at home against New Zealand in 2015, will be the second wicketkeeper in the squad apart from Taniya Bhatia.
The Indian board also announced the President's XI squad that will play a warm-up game ahead of the series on February 18.
In both games whether chasing or batting first, India were stuck in the less than 140-run mark, which is below-par against a top team like New Zealand.
Chasing a modest target, New Zealand made heavy weather of the chase before scampering home off the last ball of the match losing six wickets.
New Zealand pacer Lea Tahuhu played a decisive role with three scalps off her four overs to derail India's pursuit of a 160-run target .
Smriti Mandhana's fiery knock (34-ball 58) on Wednesday, however, couldn't power India women home as they lost the first T20I against New Zealand women by 23 runs.
The 33-year-old reached the milestone when she walked into the field for the ongoing third and final T20I against West Indies in Karachi.
Smriti cracked her fourth ODI century and an unbeaten 90 in India's 2-1 win in the three-match rubber against New Zealand.
Mithali made her ODI debut against England in Milton Keynes in January 1999 and on Friday became the first woman to compete in 200 matches in the 50-over format.
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